My Background

My musical career started at the age of nine with Pemberton Old, a local brass band in the North-West of England (Wigan). I started to play the Bb Cornet which is a descendant of the Trumpet, slightly different bore configuration producing a more mellow sound. I worked my way up through the ranks of the band until I was 16 years old, I was then offered the Flugel horn position with the Wingates Band. Where I stayed for two years.

I was approached by the Fodens Motor Works from Sandbach in Cheshire for the position of assistant principal cornettist.. I accepted the position and before long was part of the Harry Mortimers “Men O’ Brass. This was the massed bands of the Fodens, Fairy Aviation from Stockport, and the Morris Motors Band from Oxford. What a phenomenal sound 80 brass players and 6 percussionist playing in unison. At the same time I decided to take my playing to a more serious level and started to study musical Theory and Harmony and taking Associated Board Examinations.

It wasn't too long before I was offered the Principal cornet spot back at Wingates. A position which I then held for some ten years. Within months of joining the band I was playing the Royal Albert Hall on my favourite instrument - the cornet.. I had an enjoyable time with the band touring both this country and abroad. There were concerts on a regular basis, radio broadcasts and competitions during the year.

It was at these competitions that I became the Solo Champion of Britain in 1979, and 1980 and the prize in 1980 was a fully paid trip to Australia where I toured the South Eastern side part (New South Wales) playing at concerts etc. Still studying I gained my Fellowship of the Trinity College of Music in London in 1981. It was whilst studying for this that I progressed into the conducting, adjudicating and also the teaching of music which I do on a freelance basis within the North West of England. I am now a full member of the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators (ABBA) and the Association of Brass Band Conductors. .