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The Bandsmen
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Front Row Cornets |
| Rebecca Goodwin
I've been frequenting Delph Band Club
since I was a week old and was a Delph Band groupie for the first 10
years of my life. I finally joined the band as a player in 1994,
starting off on 3rd cornet - in this years we won the North West Area
and I got the chance to perform at Wembley Arena for the National
Finals. I progressed onto Repiano where I played for 5 years before
being forcefully pushed onto principal cornet in 2000 by my loving
father... To Be Continued. |
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| Paul Gibson
When I was seven the school teacher wouldn’t teach me brass because I
couldn’t read music! So my dad read a ‘tune a day’ book and taught me to
play a C scale.
I joined Delph Youth Band gaining the nickname Snowy because of my hair,
I’ve still got the name but not the hair! Progressing to the ‘big’ band
in 1980 where my first contest was winning the finals in London.
I worked through the ranks to top chair for
15 years. I am trying to work back down, but can’t get past bumper up!!
Even my daughter was born to music from Brassed Off. Ask the mid wife -
a horn player!! |
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| Rodney Wilson
Rodney started playing age 7 at school where
he was taught by John Siswick. He has played for Kingsway Youth,
Ashworth, Rochdale Youth, Rochdale Wilsons, Delph - seven years holiday
- Wardle and then back to Delph Band |
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Andy Skeldon
I’ve been with
Delph since I got my 2nd teeth (about 10years ago)!
I have progressed
through the ranks as they say, from the youth band through to the
lofty heights of 4th man down on the front row (a
position where I have been ‘helping out’ for 10 years)!
Being with Delph
continues to add to your ‘claim to fame’ CV including a pint or two
with Ewan McGregor, appearing in a blockbuster movie, attending its
world premiere and partying by royal appointment (at the Duke’s pad)
and lets not forget that Glorious’_ _ _ _ stage debut!
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Soprano |
Michael Brook
Michael was brought up in Netherton, in the heart of
the Holme Valley brass band community. He first learnt to play Bb cornet
at the age of eight years in his primary school band. Soon after he
joined Holme Silver band where from the age of eighteen he established
himself on Eb soprano cornet, playing for them for 14 years. In 1994 he
moved to Meltham and Meltham Mills band on soprano and took on the role
of band manager. As a soprano cornet player Michael has made guest
appearances with several local bands and many not so local. His ambition
to conduct was fulfilled in September 2000 when he was invited to join
Yorkshire Traction Honley Band. Whilst conducting at Honley Michael had
the opportunity to play with Delph Band, so after several months of
juggling the two he opted to concentrate on his playing where he has
been since 2001. |
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Repiano |
| Lee Howson
Started playing at the age of nine. First
band was Kingsway Youth Band, then went to play for Rochdale Met Youth
Band under the baton of the infamous John Siswict.
Then had a bit of a break (20 years!) before taking up banding again
with Wardle Anderson brass where i remained until joining Delph Band in
2005. |
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Back Row Cornets |
| Keith Alexander |
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| Rachel Valentine |
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| James Taylor |
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Horns |
| Christine Longhurst |
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Rosie Partington
Born into a brass-banding family I started playing at the age of 9 and
joined Hall Royd Band, Shipley, which was conducted by my Dad. I later
joined Home Charm Paints (Thornhill) Band before moving house over the
Pennines where I became a member of Greenfield Band in 1994. I have
played horn with Delph since 2000 and am proud to have my 2 daughters on
cornet and horn in Delph Training Band. |
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| Kath Tomlinson
I
started playing at the age of 11 when I joined Delph Trainer Band,
picking up the cornet, before finally settling on baritone.
Soon after I progressed to The Delph Youth Band, playing 2nd baritone
and then later solo baritone.
In 2000, I moved upto to The Delph Senior Band on 2nd horn, and I have
played there ever since. I also help out with the trainer band on
Saturday mornings and am another one of three members that actually live
in Delph.
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Hannah Crossley
I started playing a brass instrument at the age of
seven. I played cornet for two years and then moved on to play the tenor
horn.When I was eight, I
joined Delph Youth Band and moved up to senior band at the age of 11
where I have played ever since. I have won an award for the youngest
player at the regionals in October 2005, I am also one of the three
players that actually live in Delph! |
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Flugel |
Lorraine Valentine
I joined the youth band in 1974 age 10 playing
cornet. I progressed to principal cornet in 1976. I went up to senior
band at the end of 1976on bumper up.
1980 we won the nationals and the flugel player left the band so Phil
asked me to give it a go, i must have done ok because im still there.
Highlights have to be wining the Nationals, Brassed Off and
playing for the Duke of Westminster & Prince Edward. |
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Euphoniums |
| Keith Palmer |
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Emma Hartley
I started playing with Linthwaite Training Band at the age of 12. On
my
first Saturday morning I asked them if I could play a cornet, was
given a
euphonium as they didn't have one in the Training Band at the time,
and I've
been stuck with it ever since !!
Once I was ready to play in a 'grown up' band I moved to Yorkshire
Traction
and Honley, where I played for a few years, before moving to Delph
in 2002,
although it feels like I've been with the band forever !!
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Baritones |
| Alison Clayton
I started playing at the age of 10in the
school band. I joined Boarshurst B band at the age of 12 and enjoyed
many contest successes including appearing at the national finals at the
Royal Albert Hall. In 1987 the band changed its name to Greenfeild band,
which my husband still plays for. I was then moved onto solo euphonium 4
weeks before Blackpool contest when the only euphonium player in the
band had left to go onto another band. I stayed on euphonium for a while
before in 1997 due to family commitments. In 2003 i helped Delph Band at
Rochdale contest and have played with the band ever since. |
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Rebecca Childs
I started playing at the age of 10
years old when I tried the cornet but didn't like it and tried my
Mum's Tenor Horn and Dad's Euphonium, but
decided I would like to play Baritone.
I joined Bare Trees Wind Band and have
played at the Royal Albert Hall in
London (at the Schools Proms in 2004)
and Symphony Hall in Birmingham.
My first contest with Delph at
Wilkinson's , we came third and the next contest was Butlin's last
weekend in which we won!
Everyone in the band have made me feel
very welcome and I am looking forward
to being part of Delph Band.
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Trombone |
| Mark Shales |
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Charles Lukoczki
I first joined the Delph band in 1975 and played for
5 years until 1980. Later I rejoined the band in 2004 and have been
playing bass trombone ever since. I had a short spell with Mossley band.
I also organise all the uniforms within the band. |
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Basses |
| Phil Shaw
I started playing a brass instrument at 13 when I took up the single Eb
Bass which looked big at the time, moved onto Bb Bass within a couple of
years and a stack of books so I could reach the mouth piece. This was
with the reputed Mossley Hollins School Band under the leadership of Mr
Brien Farrar .
At the age of 19 I joined Delph Band and have
stayed here ever since on & off, as the band has a friendly and
supportive atmosphere.
PS Don’t need the books any more. |
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| Luke Jones
I started playing the cornet at the age
of 10 (it was a match made in hell). After about a year or so I moved to
the baritone where i remained for for a few months. Then as i got bigger
so did the instrument as i moved onto the euphonium. At this time I
joined Oldham Music Centre and slowly started to progress through the
ranks. I then moved onto Tuba, (My chosen instrument) that i have been
playing for around 5 years, and so i started to progress much quicker ,
gaining the position of principal Tuba in the youth band under Martyn
Evans and Jonathon Leedale. During this time I also joined Dobcross
Youth band under the charismatic Ted Griffiths. Over a 3 year period I
helped the band with promotion to the third section. I have now joined
Delph where I hope to continue the contest success! |
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Dave Bamford
Joined Delph Band in 1990 from Milnrow Band. Started
playing about 40 years ago with Stalybridge Junior Band and played with
All Souls Band - Openshaw Original -
Various other bands around the Manchester
area with my father. |
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| Michael McErlain
I joined the band in 1972 as a novice on the
tenor horn, progressed to baritone and then euphonium where i stayed for
18 years. Took a gap year due to work commitments and rejoined the band
on Eb Bass and filled the seat for 13 years. In 2006 I took the ultimate
challenge and made a sideways move onto the Bb bass - a step nearer the
door? - not for some time yet. |
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Percussion |
Mike Rigby
I have been drumming since I was 9, I later ventured
into the percussion section and I have enjoyed a mix of both ever since.
I joined the OMBC Music centre at 10, and I have worked my way up
through the ranks to the Youth Band which I gave up in 2006. I joined Delph Band in September 2004 just to help out at Pontins and ended up
staying on! I play for a number of other bands, both on percussion and
saxophone, but brass banding is defiantly where I belong. |
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