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Our Story

The Veterans Big Band was formed in 2022 and is comprised of talented musicians from the Royal Marines Band Service, various Army Bands and the Royal Air Force Music Service. The Veterans Big Band's mission is to honour the Big Band era while showcasing the musical skills of individuals who have served in the UK Armed Forces. We believe that our performances not only entertain but also make a meaningful impact on those who served and the wider Armed Forces community. We are based in Lincolnshire in the United Kingdom, a county with the second-highest number of veterans in the UK.

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Through our music, we strive to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of the remarkable talents and invaluable contributions of our veterans. Our concerts also support other organisations associated with the Armed Forces. In the past we have supported the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) at Stamford Hall in Leicestershire, emphasizing our commitment to the well-being and care of our servicemen and women as well as outdoor Armed Forces Days and RAF Association concerts.

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" The Veterans Big Band Concert was the ninth concert organised by the RAF Association and with the help from the other veteran associations, will undoubtedly go down as the most successful so far. The money raised will be distributed between our four local veterans’ charities these being the RAFA Wings Appeal, the RBL Poppy Appeal, The Royal Naval Charity; and SSAFA. I am convinced that the large amount of money we raised was purely down to the excellence of your band. Many thanks for the concert last Sunday, we loved it! " (Bernard Lines, Royal Air Forces Association Rushden & District Branch, June 2024)

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The Veterans Big Band is led by Ron Moonesinghe, who lives in Sleaford. Ron has been playing since the age of 8 and served in the British Army as a military musician on both trombone and cello. He joined the Royal Artillery Band in 1975 after two years of training at Woolwich and a finishing year at the Royal Military School of Music (Kneller Hall). He then served a further four years at the main Artillery band in London. Ron is also a member of The Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees (VAPC)- a public appointment which is a national network that helps veterans and the Armed Forces community, and their families access vital welfare support. Ron sits on the East Midlands committee of the VAPC. In 2023, the band was honoured to receiving the Bronze Award of the Armed Forces Covenant in “national recognition of their commitment to the Armed Forces”.

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