MUSICAL DIRECTOR:
John Wood
John’s
banding started when he was 10 as a junior
band member in the Salvation Army, playing
horn. He went on to play Solo Horn with a
number of SA bands over the years, also
played Horn for the Kevin Ashman sextet, and
finally ended up as Principal Cornet for the
Gloucester SA Band. Like so many SA players,
John eventually moved into the contesting
world, playing Horn for a number of
championship bands including; Yorkley
Onward, Flowers and Desford.
As well as playing
brass, John studied bassoon and is an
accomplished pianist. He conducted his first
SA Band when he was 18 and was a SA
Bandleader for a number of years. John also
worked as Bandmaster whilst at Yorkley and
conducted Freckleton Band just prior to
moving overseas. The move overseas brought
an 8 year gap in John’s banding but upon his
return to the UK he came out of retirement
to play Solo Horn for Eccleston Band where
again he frequently took up the baton. John
was also a frequent guest for the Leyland
Band before moving to play Solo Horn for
Longridge Band.
John took over as MD
for the Lostock Hall Memorial Band in 2007
and under his Musical Directorship, the band
saw their most successful contesting results
ever. In his 4 year tenure in that position
he led them from the 4th section
through to “knocking on the door” of the 1st
section and even managed to bag a National
Champions trophy along the way.
John is extremely
delighted to now be part of the Poulton-le-Fylde
Band.
In his day to day work John lives the rest of his life in the fast lane, working as a General Manager in the global Automotive sector.