About: I was brought up in the Salvation Army where they didn’t ask you if you wanted to play, they asked you which instrument you wanted to play. My Great Grandpa my Grandpa and Dad all played the trombone so at the age of 6, naturally I decided to play the cornet.
I remember playing in my infant school assembly when I was 9 and being made to play solos at local festivals. I carried on taking lessons and played in school wind bands, brass bands, jazz bands swing bands and Essex youth orchestra.
When I was about 14, I started having lessons at the Guildhall school of music. A year later I joined Harlow Town Band. I was later made principal cornet player except for when we contested when I was asked to play second man down while we had a guest cornet player.
I went to university, became a teacher, got married, had 3 children then became a police officer. I found I didn’t have time for playing so largely gave it up.
My son started playing trumpet and when he was 14, I brought him along to Harlow band to see if he liked it. By the end of the year, he had left and I had been made principal cornet.
I have subsequently gone on to play with other bands such as Epping, Essex Police band, Colchester (becoming their MD for a short while) Aveley. I now do my contesting with Regent brass where I am the Repiano cornet player. Last March we were promoted to the championship section.

Favourite Piece of Music: I love arranging music for Brass Band in particular John Rutter, Philip Stopford but my favourite composer is Faure. His blend of harmonies and Melodies are sublime. My favourite piece is Cantique de Jean Racine.