I joined the Poulton-le-Fylde Band after 25 years service in the Army, during which time I have performed throughout Europe, Australia , North America and Japan as both trombone player and Musical Director. In 1989, I was selected to attend the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall to study as a Student Bandmaster. 

During the 3 years course I won prizes for both composing and arranging, including a Premiere in the Royal Albert Hall. I graduated in 1992 having been awarded the Professor’s award for performance on all instruments of the wind band, Choral and Ministry of Defence examinations prize. My first posting as Bandmaster was with The Gloucestershire Regiment in 1993, and in 1994, I was appointed Bandmaster of The Prince of Wales’ Division (Clive). 

In March 1997, I was appointed Bandmaster of the Coldstream Guards, and in 2000 was commissioned and was appointed Director of Music, The King’s Division Normandy Band. I am originally from Huddersfield , and am currently employed by The Ministry of Defence as a Project Manager.

Having played trombone with the band since January 06, I know first hand the capabilities of the musicians within Poulton le Fylde Band.  The band is a fair combination of youth and experience, and has the ability to further itself musically and on the wider concert stage. The band contains a number of top class musicians and will continue to flourish on both the contest and concert platform.  My aspirations are to ensure that all future engagements are well rehearsed and advertised guaranteeing our audiences a varied and stimulating evening’s entertainment.  I will continue to build on the reputation the band has attained and look forward to the experience of working with such a talented group of musicians.  

The Band travel to Harrogate to perform in the National Brass Band Championships on Saturday 29th September 2007, performing a piece of music written by Ray Steadman-Allen called `Victorian Snapshots - on Ratcliff Highway`.  The music describes the journey of a Salvation Army Band marching through London in the 1880’s with a collection of sound pictures describing the crowded, dissolute and degraded dockside slum.  We hear snatches of old time songs like “Champagne Charlie”, “What shall we do with the Drunken Sailor” and “ London Bridge is falling Down”, however we are frequently reminded of the bands courage as we hear fragments of melodies such as “Soldiers of the Queen”, “British Grenadiers” and “Hearts of Oak”.  Towards the end of the music a confrontation occurs which brings us to the finale “We’ll be Heroes”.  The music provides a stern challenge for the band with all sections being thoroughly examined.