A TEENAGER from Melksham is the youngest Royal Marine in the band service.
Jack Lewis, 17, who grew up in Melksham and attended Melksham Oak Community School is now in his second year of training in Portsmouth and is the youngest of over 400 Royal Marines in the band service.
He is expected to combine his musical expertise and his battle training to ensure he always performs at his peak. Jack plays the trombone and is surrounded by famous musical names such as Gordon Campbell who is widely recognised as the best trombone player in Europe. Jack said, “I absolutely love it! I always knew I wanted to join the military and then one day when in Bournemouth I saw the Royal Marines band and thought I want to be a part of that. Who doesn’t want to get paid to play music and travel the world?
“I am grateful to Melksham Oak who gave me all the tools to reach the levels I have today and I can honestly say without them I would not have had some of the success that I have had. One day I could be playing a massive musical performance and then before I know it I’m in Afghanistan. It’s tough sometimes, but I just get on with it.”
Jack’s proud grandfather Graham Fryer said, “The whole family is extremely proud of Jack and what he is doing. To be brave enough to leave home and take on such a massive challenge at just 16 as he was when he joined, is a huge achievement and one which we are very proud of. We know Jack can go as far as he wants and he is extremely talented.”
