Concert for victims of Deal blast

Many of those killed and injured were teenagers

A concert is being held in memory of the 11 Royal Marines musicians who died when an IRA bomb exploded at a barracks in Deal, Kent, 15 years ago.

The 15lb bomb exploded in the Royal Marines' concert hall in Canada Road on the morning of 22 September 1989, while the musicians were practising.

The Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines returned to the town on Sunday to give a free concert for 4,000 people.

They also re-dedicated the bandstand to the victims of the blast.

'Wonderful way'

Usually a service is held on the anniversary of the bombing in September.

The Royal Marines School of Music was moved from Deal in the 1990s and some of the barracks were turned into flats.

Steven Mission, a Royal Marine, is responsible for bringing the band back to Deal.

He said: "Now we have changed the format of the concert - it is not just an ordinary concert.

"The second half of the concert is a rededication service of the bandstand which we normally hold in September - the closest date to the actual bombing.

"But now we are changing it for the date when the Marines are down because we think that is a far better time to do it.

"The band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines are down at the same time and it is a wonderful way for them to pay their respects to their fallen comrades."

Twenty other bandsman were injured in the explosion.