Honorary President
We are delighted to have Rodney Newton as the band’s Honorary President. Rodney is a very distinguished musician and composer. He began his professional career in 1967 with the New BBC Orchestra in Bristol, as a timpanist and percussionist, during which time he also wrote music for the BBC World Service. He went on to join the orchestra of Sadler’s Wells Opera, where he stayed for 11 years and saw it become the English National Opera (ENO).
He left ENO to work in films and television as a composer, arranger, musical director, and music consultant. Rodney’s concert works include 13 symphonies, five string quartets, chamber works, vocal music, and many published works for brass and wind bands.
Rodney holds an MA with a distinction from Salford University, is an Honorary Associate of London Film School (where he was a music consultant for 22 years), an Honorary Member of Birmingham Conservatoire, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is also Arranger-in-Residence with the Band of the Coldstream Guards, and his brass band connections include musical associateships with Cory and Fairey bands, and honorary vice-presidency of Hemel Hempstead Band, and a conducting residency with Welwyn Garden City Band. Rodney was also Features Editor of British Bandsman magazine for nine years, and is currently working on a full-time PhD at Salford University.
Players
- Musical director
- Philip Mead MA Hon LCM ARAM FTCL GRSM ARCM LRAM
- Principal cornet
- Graham Berridge
- Soprano cornet
- Alison Whelan
- Tutti cornets
- Matthew Bentham, Jonathan Hoey, Kiran Kapur, Rufus Stalker
- Repiano cornet
- Christine Whelan
- 2nd cornets
- Terry Bird, Bryan Good
- 3rd cornets
- David Warren, Francesco Siragusa, Sue Bolt
- Flugel horn
- Katharine Hutchinson
- Solo horn
- Judy Claridge
- 1st horn
- Jennie Ingrey
- 2nd horn
- vacancy
- 1st baritone
- Andy Jardine
- 2nd baritone
- vacancy
- 1st trombone
- Tim Rayner
- 2nd trombone
- Tom Yates
- Bass trombone
- Chris Ashford
- Principal euphonium
- Harriet Shannon
- Euphonium
- Andy Greaves
- E♭ basses
- Don Mayes, Jim Varney
- B♭ basses
- Natya Namaskara
- Percussion
- Dan Hulme, Gill Mead
Officers and committee
The smooth running of the band is all thanks to several band members who serve on the committee. All posts are elected annually.
- Chairman
- David Warren (cornet)
- Musical director
- Philip Mead (conductor)
- Treasurer
- Matthew Bentham (cornet)
- Secretary
- Katharine Hutchinson (flugel)
- Band manager
- Jennie Ingrey (horn)
- Webmaster
- Dan Hulme (percussion)
- Publicity officer
- Kiran Kapur (cornet)
In addition, Tom Yates (trombone) serves as Deputy Conductor. Although this isn’t an elected post, it’s no less important. The Deputy Conductor ensures the smooth conduct of rehearsals in the Conductor’s absence.