Portsmouth Light Orchestra

The Portsmouth Light Orchestra (PLO), was formed in 1936 and has grown into a healthy orchestral ensemble of about 40 players, in which all sections of the orchestra are represented.

We are purely amateur and perform concerts for charitable events and other good causes. The aim of the Portsmouth Light Orchestra is to enable players of varying ages and standards to play and enjoy music once a week in a friendly and relaxed environment. We rehearse diligently in preparation for our concerts and gain much pleasure from this experience.

We are fortunate to have as our conductor, Mr Ed McDermott - a retired Royal Marine Bandsman who served on HMY Britannia. Our previous conductor, Mr Bob Loft, another retired Royal Marine Bandsman who also served for a few years on the Royal Yacht, was our Musical Director for 26 years. Their commitment to us over the past years and the enthusiasm and loyalty of our members and supporters, has enabled us to continue to increase our playing standards. The wealth of individual experience amongst the older players also means that less experienced musicians get the opportunity to learn all the tricks of the trade.

We have a library of over 300 orchestral pieces and are constantly adding to this, funds permitting. We play mostly light concert music ranging from overtures such as The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Italian Girl in Algiers, Poet and Peasant to selections from shows and films such as Evita, Les Miserables, Titanic, Lord of the Dance; old favourites like The Merchant of Venice, Four Indian Love Lyrics, Iolanthe to more modern arrangements like The Greatest Love of All, Shadow of your Smile, Waltzing Cat and many other popular pieces.

To find out more about the PLO (vacancies, concert availability/dates) please see the Join Us page and get in touch!

We play in the Buckland Community Centre in Portsmouth every Tuesday night from 7.30pm until about 9.30pm, with a break for tea/coffee and sometimes a raffle.

THE LATE BOB LOFT - 1938-2009

MAESTRO - 1983-2009

Bob was educated in Rochester, Kent and joined the Royal Marines Band Service in 1952 as a boy musician. He spent some of his training period at HMS Ganges in East Anglia and the rest at the Royal Marines Barracks in Deal. Many of his earlier service years were spent on frigates and carriers such as HMS Tiger, HMS Ark Royal, HMS Hermes and during that period he also undertook training courses at Deal qualifying as Corporal, Sergeant and later, Colour Sergeant. His last years of service were spent on HMY Britannia, where he was the Bandmaster and also ran the Dance Band.

On retirement from the RM Band Service in 1978, Bob joined IBM where he worked until he took early retirement at the age of 55 and spent the next few years running the house as chief cook and bottle-washer while Val worked full-time as a teacher. The chores were usually finished by 0900 hours and the rest of the day was spent on the beach, fishing at Hayling Island, Stokes Bay or from the pier at Southsea and cockling at Hill Head.

Bob enjoyed his time with the Portsmouth Light Orchestra, raising the standard of the playing considerably and leaving a really good foundation on which Ed has continued to build.