We are delighted that Brigadier (Retired) Peter Gilbert QVRM TD DL VR has agreed to become an Honorary Patron of Eynsford Concert Band.
Peter played a significant role in the organisation and delivery of two highly successful Festivals of Remembrance at Rochester Cathedral, raising over £12,500 for military charities. He was also instrumental in organising our performance alongside the Canterbury for Ukraine Charity Ladies choir to over 1,400 Ukrainian troops being trained under operation INTERFLEX.
With multiple future projects now in the pipeline, we are excited about the potential of his connections and our collaboration with him.
While a 17-year-old schoolboy, Peter Joined the Territorial Army in South Wales as a gunner in the Royal Artillery and served in the UK Armed Forces to his 65th birthday. At medical school he transferred to the Regular Royal Army Medical Corps going on to serve in Germany, the Falkland Islands (two years after the war), Saudi Arabia and the UK, moving back to the TA in 1990.
Peter was an NHS GP partner in Rochester from 1990 to 2019, and a locum GP until retiring last year, always balancing his equally demanding NHS and Reserve Forces commitments. He commanded 220 Field Ambulance, (today 220 Medical Squadron) in Aylesford and 256 (City of London) Field Hospital. He deployed in his clinical role as a GP to Iraq in 2003 and to Afghanistan in 2009, commanding the UK Hospital in Camp Bastion. He was then based in Shorncliffe as the Deputy Commander of 2 (South East) Brigade, before promotion to Brigadier as the Deputy Director of Army Medical Services. On retiring at 60 from the Army Reserve, he served in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force to 65, which included a second tour to the Falklands, as the RAF Senior Medical Officer, 37 years after his first deployment as an Army junior doctor.
Peter is currently the link Deputy Lieutenant for Medway. He is Kent County President of the Royal British Legion and the Royal Army Medical Corps Association, a Kent County Committee member of the Army Benevolent Fund, the Medical Governor of the Hospital of Sir John Hawkins in Chatham and Chair of the South East Reserve Forces and Cadets Association.
Peter runs regularly to stay reasonably fit and sings in Rochester Choral Society and the London Welsh Male Voice Choir.
Welcome Peter!
