SECRETARY:

Neil Jones  Mobile (07515) 760211  e-mail

I first joined Poulton-le-Fylde Band when I was ten years old, having been given the opportunity to learn a brass instrument by my junior school where I was fortunate enough to have Glyn Lloyd as the peripatetic teacher covering the school at the time. Glyn played a large part in developing my initial potential and he introduced me to the then band`s resident conductor Ian Whittaker through the regional music school. With Ian`s encouragement I developed into a reasonable musician occupying most of the seats on the cornet rank at some stage, including the thankless task of Soprano.

I was also fortunate enough to attend a secondary school that had a very good Brass Band, with some excellant cornet players whose shoes I was left to fill on their departure. I learnt the trade of `Principal Cornet` at school, with the aide of my tutor Roger Waring, the then Principal Cornet at Poulton Band; but then I left Poulton Band to concentrate on my academic studies at fifteen, joining Pilling Jubilee Silver Band where I got my first taste of Principal Cornet at a contest - failing miserably ! I also had five memorable years playing with the Lancashire Youth Brass Band from the age of twelve until seventeen.

I have been back at Poulton now for about sixteen years, and held Principal Cornet for the last eight years after being cajoled into the position until a replacement could be found. I have also held the position of Band Secretary for two years, but unfortunately career development did not allow me to give enough time to this position, so I stepped down, only to take the Charman`s seat a year later.

My current position as Technical Manager for the UK market leader in architecturally designed modular housing & building systems does not allow me to devote as much time as I would like to my position of Chairman & Principal Cornet of the band, nor does it leave me much time for other hobbies I wish to pursue. I have always been a very keen sportsman, playing football, cricket, squash and golf to name but a few.

Our band has developed an excellant social activity group during the past two or three years and we have plenty of ideas for continued growth in this area as well as the musical side of the band. As I approach my mid-thirties, I like to try to think both positively and realistically for the good of the band. In an ever increasingly difficult time for brass bands generally, I am probably one of the few that thinks the film `Brassed Off` did not do the brass band world many favours, and wonder where we will be after the euphoria of `Acid Brass` and the aforementioned have worn off. Will there be an influx of worthwhile sponsors for the lesser known bands, of which we are one, or will we continue to `labour and love` this way of life we have chosen ?