Jones’s was a rather grand title for a rather modest man who had a 40-year career in the British military.

“I started out as an enlistee who ended at the top,” he told Cadle. “I am immensely honored. It’s a complete privilege to be responsible for the music of the nation.”

Selecting appropriate music for a beloved monarch’s funeral processions from Westminster to Buckingham Palace, and then on to Windsor Castle was a difficult task that took many months of auditioning selections and presenting them for approval.

“There’s only a handful of really good funeral marches,” Jones said.

Details ironed out over many years included such minutia as precisely when the Coldstream Guards would strike up each piece of painstakingly selected music. Sometimes, as director, Jones’s back would be to the ceremonial processions, so another visual cue would be needed. One such cue was when the rear tire of a particular vehicle that was within his vision began to move.

Jones retired shortly before his visit to Crestview, more than five years before Queen Elizabeth passed away Sept. 8. The Coldstream Guard’s current band director is tasked with continuing the preparations he had begun, but he regaled Cadle with other stories of brushes with the royal household.

He fondly recalled discussing the merits of different composers and music selections with the late Prince Phillip at a cocktail party and having Queen Elizabeth compliment him on a selection he chose for her 90th birthday celebration in 2016. (It was Jean-Joseph Mouret’s “Rondeau,” familiar to Americans as the theme music to “Masterpiece Theatre.”)

Jones and his concert band played music for ceremonies and events throughout the United Kingdom, with a repertoire extending far beyond “God Save the Queen,” the national anthem for which England’s American cousins borrowed the music for our “My Country ’Tis of Thee.”

Cadle, a former Crestview High School band director, sympathized with his guest’s stories about being in an uncomfortable spotlight when all eyes are on the band he’s directing. His two mantras, Jones said, are “Failure is not an option” and, to assure a success, “Train, train, train.”

“Performing state ceremonials is like being in a goldfish bowl,” he said.

Such lessons hit home with students in the Shoal River Middle School Mustang Band, for whom Jones, visiting the Emerald Coast as an adjudicator for the Panama City Beach Music Festival, instructed a master class during his day in Crestview.

“He’s revered in band circles,” Cadle said. “For someone of his stature to visit with us is quite a feather in our caps.”

Students got to learn more than just music performance techniques from the visiting master. A bit of British history and culture got worked in during a question-and-answer opportunity. Jones also had praise for then-Mustang Band music teacher Kim Whaley, who now helps direct the Big Red Machine.

“They are a really talented bunch of students, but talent comes from good leadership,” Jones said. “She’s very good. I’ll take back fond memories of Shoal River Middle School.”

It’s not the only fond memory he took back to England. Cadle took Jones to lunch at Desi’s Restaurant, a Main Street landmark eatery renowned for its lunch buffet. Cadle said it was the first time in Jones’ life he experienced banana pudding.

“That stuff is marvelous!” Jones said.