Brian's Boring Brass Band Bits

I started playing the cornet at the age of 9 in Gifford Hall Mission Silver Band in Islington, London. The mission doesn't exist anymore. The Bandmaster's name was Jim Sharpe and he put a bit of broken matchstick on my tongue and told me to spit it off. He told me that's how to produce a note. Well, it wasn't the whole story, but it was a good start! I went to band practice with my dad. He played B-flat Bass (Tuba). He had gone back into the band after about 25 years absence. It wasn't until many years later that I discovered he had forgotten how to play. He was only going to band practice in order to encourage me!

Players

After we moved to Essex, I looked elsewhere for banding opportunities. I spent between 1965 and about 1992 playing in Salvation Army bands. Along the way I was principal Cornet and Deputy Bandmaster at Shoeburyness Corps. I spent some time as Principal Euphonium in the same band, though cornet remains my instrument. I also played in Hadleigh Temple Band, but I was only good enough for the back row there!

Since leaving The Salvation Army I joined Castle Point Band. This was the first contesting band I ever played in, though I only played in one contest. It wasn't long before I found myself sitting in the end seat again., though I should point out that we stopped contesting before I became Principal Cornet! I left Castle Point after a year or two and joined Rayleigh Brass. I play fifth man down on the front row and I'm enjoying it very much. There's not the pressure of being principal. They're a great bunch at Rayleigh. Funnily enough the Bandmaster is an old pal of mine; we used to knock around together at school. It's been good to renew my acquaintance with Alan Thorpe again after over 20 years.

In case you're wondering, the uniforms of the bands I have played in don't look anything like the pictures on this page!