MIXED emotions are expected to greet a suggestion to move the Royal Marines memorial garden, created after the IRA killed 11 musicians in Deal.

Lt Col Chris Davis, the Royal Marines principle director of music, announced his idea to thousands of people on Sunday on Walmer Green.

He said: "Maybe the garden should be by the memorial bandstand. Maybe it is forgotten at the back of the concert hall."

His idea brought applause and calls of 'yes, yes' from the crowd and was prompted by a mystery fire at the Royal Marines former concert hall in Canada Road.

The memorial garden has a plaque and two benches and stands beside the remains of the hall in the old barracks.

Lt Col Davis said he arrived in Deal early on Sunday to take a look at the burned-out building and described the sight as not good.

"The garden needs to be seen by everyone and if it is by the bandstand the RMA Club on The Strand can keep an eye on it and we can on our visits."

The principal director of music said he intended to speak to people involved about the possible move.

Deal Memorial Bandstand was built in 1992 and has the names of the 11 dead musicians engraved on it.

Dean Pavey is among them and his mother Mavis Pavey as usual made the trip to Deal on Sunday to see the Royal Marines play their annual concert.

"The garden is tucked away at the moment and if I had to vote on the suggestion then it should be moved to the bandstand," she said.

"That is where I feel the musicians are most likely to be remembered, but I can understand why people would feel strongly about keeping it inside the old barracks."

Mrs Pavey, who lives in Eastbourne, said she expected a mixed reaction from Lt Col Davis's comments.

She added that the memorial garden was not, after all, the exact spot where the IRA bomb exploded on September 22, 1989.

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