Ross was born on Valentine’s Day 1978 in Kent but moved to Devon as a young child. He was educated at Churston Grammar School and upon leaving, with an award for services to the school and A-levels in Music, English Literature and Christian Theology, went to Sheffield University to study music, with extra modules in English phonetics, semantics and syntax.

He joined the Royal Marines Band Service as a solo clarinettist in September 1997 and after receiving a medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians and the Prince’s Badge, left training early and joined Portsmouth Band in January 1999. During his time here he played at two Wembley FA Cup Finals and enjoyed memorable trips to Thailand and the US.

In 2001 Ross was drafted to Scotland Band, a period in which he travelled to Australia, the US and Bridlington. During the fire strikes of 2002 he served as part of a Green Goddess team, following which he went to the Gulf to serve on board RFA Argus, acting as a casualty handler during the early part of the Iraq conflict.

Ross was promoted Corporal in 2004 and a year later joined the Royal Marines School of Music as solo clarinet instructor, during which time he gained diplomas in teaching, conducting and clarinet performance.

Successful completion of the year-long Bandmasters Course followed promotion to Sergeant, and in May 2008, after being awarded the Silver Medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians and two more diplomas, Ross was drafted to HMS Illustrious, a Royal Navy Aircraft Carrier. This draft involved a variety of jobs including being Mail Officer, Mess Manager, driving the ship(!) and, of course, music teacher and Bandmaster.

Ross has now found his (skinny) land legs and works as a Colour Sergeant back in HMS Nelson, Portsmouth as the Academic Instructor on the Bandmasters Course and as the University Liaison Officer for all those within the RM Band Service taking the Bachelor of Music degree programme.

Ross’s hobbies include keeping fit (he has run, amongst other races, about a dozen marathons, most of which were for charity, including two on running machines on ships whilst at sea!) and attending random music festivals with family and old school and uni’ mates. He owns a (closed) pub in Fife, Scotland which is likely to fall down very soon.