A FORMER student at the Alton College campus of HSDC has joined the Royal Marines Band Service.

James Edwards, 19, of Clanfield, a trombonist since he was six, took A-levels in biology, chemistry and music plus a BTEC subsidiary diploma in jazz performance.

He said: “I went to HSDC Alton because the music department had a really good reputation, and my incredible music teacher David Gibson inspired me to pursue music as a career.

“Obviously living near Portsmouth I’d always been aware of the Royal Marines Band. It’s always been at the back of my mind.

“When I started college and everybody was applying for university, I could just tell it wouldn’t be for me. I realised what I wanted to do was staring me right in the face.”