Sgt Bugler James Horner was born in Redhill, Surrey in 1981. During his younger years he joined the local Sea Cadet Unit where his father was an instructor and learnt to play a Bugle. Prior to joining the Royal Marines Band Service, Sgt Bug Horner studied at the University of Surrey and gained a degree in Sports Science and Leisure Management.

Sgt Bugler Horner joined the Royal Marines Band Service on the 3rd September 2007 as part of troop 1/07, passing out from the Royal Marines School of Music in December 2009. His first draft was to The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Commando Training Centre with whom he was deployed as part of Med Squadron in Afghanistan on Op Herrick 14, working as part of the Ops room as well as carrying out his duties as a Bugler.

Since then, Sgt Bugler Horner has spent time in Portsmouth, Plymouth and again CTCRM at Lympstone. Whilst in Portsmouth Band, Horner had the honour and privilege of performing the Last Post at the festival of remembrance in the Royal Albert Hall. In March 2018, Horner was promoted to Corporal Bugler and to Sergeant Bugler in September 2021. On this promotion, Horner was appointed the Drum Major of The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Plymouth, which is his current role.

Drum Major James Horner has had the opportunity to visit many places across the world during his career includin Australia, New Zealand, India, Singapore, America and the UAE. He currently resides in Plymouth with his wife Georgina and his two children, Libby and Elliott.