Lt-Col Richard Waterer OBE, MVO

Born: 26 July, 1949, in Shepton Mallet.

Died: 11 January, 2006, in Portsmouth, aged 56.

LIEUTENANT-Colonel Richard Waterer was a bandsman and musician of the highest order. He composed many memorable pieces for brass bands but the one that gained him much renown was the march Royal Salute, which was commissioned to commemorate the anniversary of the Duke of Edinburgh's 25 years as commander of the Royal Marines. It is now played regularly by all the armed services and is a popular item at brass-band concerts. Waterer, however, had a distinguished career away from the Royal Marines as an organiser of major military and Royal events. These ranged from the Edinburgh Tattoo to the Royal Tournament but also involved such high-profile events as the Queen Mother's 100th Birthday Pageant, the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations at Portsmouth and the Mountbatten Music Festivals at the Albert Hall. To such occasions, Waterer brought a fine sense of theatricality alongside a keen sense of military precision.

Richard Alan Waterer was the son of the golf secretary at Shepton Mallet and displayed an early love of music, particularly the trombone and cornet, which he played in the local band. In 1964, he decided to continue his trombone studies with the Royal Marines Band Service from which he passed out in 1967 with a Merit Award for best all-round musician. He was appointed the band's librarian and, in 1976, was band sergeant on HMS Ark Royal when it was featured in the BBC's popular documentary Sailor.

In 1982, Waterer was appointed director of music to the band of HM's Royal Marines while continuing his studies on the history of music at Goldsmith's College in London. After appointments at Dartmouth and the Royal Marines School of Music, in Deal, Waterer was seconded in 1994 to the United States Marines band in Washington DC.

Despite this hectic career, Waterer became a recognised expert in masterminding grand military occasions. He organised them with total commitment and an energy that ensured everything was checked and double-checked. Throughout, however, Waterer maintained a relaxed atmosphere and his gracious and invigorating laugh relaxed many a tense situation.

The musical items for the Queen Mother's pageant were a particular challenge for Waterer. The pageant on Horseguards Parade, in August 2000, had floats, children, bagpipes, plus camels and a few corgis. Into this - and an address by Sir John Mills - Waterer included music associated with the Queen Mother. He did so superbly and with typical flair.

Waterer was equally at home at the Queen's Jubilee in June 2002 at Portsmouth. There, he conducted the massed bands of the Royal Marines, the Coldstream Guards and Royal Air Force.

In 1995, Waterer was appointed principal director of the Mountbatten Music Festival and that year programmed a most dignified tribute to all those who fought in the Second World War. The following year had a touch of sadness as it had been announced that the Band of the Royal Marines School of Music was soon to be disestablished. However, that year, Waterer rose above such problems and delivered a memorable concert. After the Irish dance troupe Riverdance (accompanied by Royal Marine drummers) had set the Albert Hall alight, the First Sea Lord, Sir Jock Slater (of sound Scottish birth), stepped on to the podium and conducted, as a tribute to the retiring commander, General Sir Robert Ross, the regimental slow march Preborajensky with magnificent panache.

Waterer was long connected with the Edinburgh Tattoo, but two years in particular stand out. In 1997, he was in charge of the Golden Anniversary Tattoo to celebrate the Golden Anniversary of the wedding of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. On a special occasion attended by the Queen and her husband, the music was particularly rousing. Waterer's conducting of the massed pipes and drums, brass bands and choir was the highlight of the evening. For the finale, a special allowance was made and Scotland the Brave was sung after the national anthem.

Then, in 2000, Waterer conducted over 200 musicians (the Band of the Highland and Lowland Guards, the band of the Royal Marines and many others) in a superb and memorable climax to commemorate the passing of the century. The musicians were augmented by Waterer's wonderful conducting of Edinburgh's Kevock Choir for the ending of the Tattoo.

Waterer was awarded an OBE in 1999 and the MVO in 2002. He is survived by his second wife and two stepchildren.