STB - About The Band - Player Profiles

I joined the band in 1947 at the age of ten. As my dad had been in the band since 1923, I had no choice but went along to practice on Saturday mornings for lessons with the band at the cost of 6d (old money!). After about 12 months I progressed to the Eb Bass, and have played this instrument ever since.

In 1956 I did my National Service and was lucky enough to join the Dorset Regimental Band. We went to Minder in Germany, and I still played Eb Bass so was lucky enough to be playing every day for eighteen months – very good practice!

I returned to Sidmouth Band in 1958, and have been with them through thick and thin, just completing 50 seasons of summer concerts at the Connaught Gardens. Over the years I have made some very good friends and have enjoyed every minute of banding.

I was chairman for about 12 years and have been band librarian for about 20 years now.

I started playing at the age of 13 under the direction of Clifford Bolitho with the Carharrack & St. Day Silver Band, near my home town of Redruth. Like most new players, I started on cornet, progressed to euphonium and by the age of 15 I moved to bass and have been there ever since.
Throughout my time playing, I have played for several bands in the South West at all levels.
Outside of banding I enjoy sport, particularly football and all forms of music.

I was born in Newport, South Wales and was brought up by Italian ice cream makers and cafe owners in the small South Wales valley town of Blaenavon, now a World Heritage site for Industrial archaeology.

I started playing for Blaenvaon Youth Band at the age of 14 having reached as far as I was going to go in playing the piano. I taught myself to play Euphonium on which I stayed for a couple of years until I joined the former Blaenavon Colliery Workmen's Band (now Blaenavon Town) where I immediately went onto Eb Bass. In my time with Blaenavon I was an active committee man being secretary for a number of years. I also dabbled with taking the junior band for a time. Up to the age of 21 I also played with the Gwent County Youth Brass Band. I also at this time played the Church Organ.

I played with Blaenavon band for over 15 years but then stopped playing in about 1991. In 2004 I moved to Honiton with my wife Deborah, when I started work for South Somerset District Council. A promotion prospect then came up and I now work for East Devon District Council based in Sidmouth.

By chance I bumped into Chris Holland who introduced me to the band and said they had a current vacancy for an Eb bass player. With some trepidation I thought I'd give it a go. it seems banding is like riding a bike - once you learn you never forget. I'm thoroughly enjoying my new banding career and am already getting in some good practice under the expert tutelage of Harold Curtis. My first concert was the 2007 Last Night of the Proms. Its great to be back!! The Band has made me feel very welcome and is so friendly and reminds me of my former band in South Wales.

I love all sorts of music from classical to modern. My favourite brass composers are Eric Ball, and Gilbert Vinter. Who would have thought all those years ago in Wales when we used to play West Country Fantasy, that I'd be one day playing that very same piece in the West Country.