RICHARD JONES

Richard’s playing history includes time spent with Aberystwyth Silver Band, the NYBBW, the NYBBGB and of course the Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band where he spent 15 years.  Richard joined Lindley In 2014 following a post Brighouse sabbatical to facilitate the fulfilment of his teaching responsibilities with the ACCENT Music Education Hub. In this role Richard delivered whole class brass, small group, individual and SEN tuition and was the main conductor for the ACCENT Community Wind Band.
During his banding career Richard has performed many of the more challenging test pieces by great composers such as Heaton, Bourgeois, Lloyd and Gregson in numerous prestigious venues across the world.
Outside brass bands Richard enjoys a wide variety of musical genres particularly jazz. One of Richard’s most memorable moments occurred when he played the trumpet owned by Dizzy Gillespie in New York.  Other musical favourites include, Louis Armstrong, Arturo Sandoval and Philip McCann.

ALISON PICKLES

Alison started playing with Gomersal Junior Band when she was 7 and played in both this and the senior band, along with her father Ken on the drums, for eight years.  She played in both the senior brass band and senior orchestra at Dewsbury Music Centre and was the inaugural co-principal of Kirklees Youth Brass Band. At this time, Alison also played with some music centre colleagues in the Wilton Brass Ensemble which was very active around the local club circuit.

She became Principal Cornet of Manor Colliery aged 14 (continuing to hold this role under the bands’ other names, Thornhill, Gawthorpe Victoria and Aceprint) and also, following a spell with Yorkshire Bus Band, occupied the end chair at Skelmanthorpe.  Alison played Repiano Cornet with Brodsworth Colliery, being this bands first female brass player.

Following an 18 year break Alison took up playing again at the end of 2012 with Grange Moor moving to Lindley in 2013

STEVE MUSGREAVE

Awaiting Biography

PETE RHODES

Awaiting Biography

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CHRIS BAKER

Awaiting Biography

ANDREW CHANDLER

Andrew’s bio to follow

HAYDN OSBORNE

Haydn began to play Cornet at the age of 6 when he joined the Sellers Youth training band. Sellers Youth became Hammond Youth where Haydn enjoyed the challenge of playing Repiano cornet. During his time at Sellers and Hammonds he competed at a number of major youth competitions, including the National Youth Championships of Great Britain at the Royal Northern College of Music. Haydn remained an enthusiastic member of Hammonds Youth until September 2014 when he was invited to join Skelmanthorpe Prospect B band.

Haydn enjoys entering solo competitions and has been successful at local slow melody contests and at the Mrs Sunderland music festival. Whilst at junior school Haydn was a member of the prize winning Lindley Junior School choir and was taught cornet by Phillip Garlick, from the Kirklees Music service. Haydn is now being taught, in preparation for taking his Grade 7 cornet exam, by Jamie Cooper from Brighouse & Rastrick Band.

As a member of Yorkshire Youth Brass Band, Haydn has performed with Black Dyke Brass Band at a number concert venues including Huddersfield and Leeds Town Halls.

He joined Lindley Band on Third Cornet in September 2015 and was the youngest player in the First Section Yorkshire Area in 2016, where the band was placed 3rd. Now aged 14, he is looking forward to a long banding career with Lindley.

Haydn also enjoys Swimming, Rugby and Basketball and performing magic.

PAUL HARRISON

When Paul started secondary school there were no music lessons but he was given the opportunity to stay on after school to have starter brass lessons with a retired teacher. His mother was keen to encourage Paul to follow in the footsteps of his Grandfather, who was a soprano cornet player and (after a full day of work in the mill) a theatre trumpet player. Unfortunately he was too old to give Paul lessons but he did give him his treasured old cornet which was a pre-World War I model.

He joined his local band, Thornhill Colliery, and one of the solo cornet players there taught him for a time. Paul tells the story: ”On one occasion the principal cornet player from Brighouse & Rastrick Band, Tony Whitaker, came for a blow at the time that I was trialling on flugel and he played my cornet. He soon returned it saying he couldn’t play it and recommended that I use a modern instrument!”

Paul stayed with the band through ups and downs and name changes, mainly playing ‘2nd man’ on the solo cornet line. The highlight was performing in the 4th Section National Finals in the Albert Hall in 1984.

He left to join Lindley Band in March 1986. Neil Jowett had been conducting the band for three years and they had just re-gained Championship status. There were many very good musicians in the band and following his audition Paul was placed on third cornet, a position which he has held ever since.

In in recent years Paul was invited to be a Trustee of the band. He is very active on the band committee, still really enjoys playing cornet and plans to continue as long as he is able.

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CLAIRE WESTACOTT

Claire started playing with Huddersfield Youth Brass Ensemble when she was 7 on cornet.  She has significant experience in the Championship Section and has played for several bands at that level including Hammonds, Milnrow, Hepworth and British Aerospace.  Also she has played at Yorkshire Imps on 3 separate occasions and it was here that she met her husband Rob who is MD at Lindley.  Despite the odd foray to Eb horn, Claire has settled at Lindley on flugel.

Outside playing and working as a healthcare assistant, Claire is kept busy looking after the littlest Westacott and also with her cake business the “Little Star Bakery”.  The band is always delighted when her delicious wares find their way to rehearsals and jobs.

RACHAEL JOHNSON

Rachael started playing at the age of 8 for her village band, Whitwell Brass Band. She joined Chapeltown Silver Prize Band aged 13 on Solo Horn and played with them for two years. She moved to Thoresby Colliery Band aged 15 where she played 1st Horn until she went to University at the age of 18.

Rachael studied at the ‘University of Salford’ for 3 Years and graduated in 2007 with a First-Class Honours Degree. Whilst at Salford, she was Solo Horn with the University Band and also had the privilege of playing with the Yorkshire Building Society Brass Band. This was followed by a stint at the Hammonds Saltaire Band.

From age 12 – 17, Rachael also played with the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (NYBBGB) and took part in a variety of courses and performances across the UK. She decided to have a break from banding once she qualified as a teacher, only returned to playing in 2016, joining the Lindley Brass Band on Solo Horn in August 2016.

Rachael has been a High School Teacher for 8 years now and is currently Head of Music/Teacher of KS3 & KS4 English at a Calderdale High School. From January 2017 she is teaching English full time which is an avenue she is incredibly excited about exploring!

Rachael’s favourite test pieces are Pageantry – Herbert Howells and Paganini Variations – Philip Wilby.

When not banding, she enjoys spending time reading, travelling, landscape photography and running. She is hoping to run her first half marathon in the next year!

ANN JACKSON

Awaiting Biography

LUCY HARPER

Lucy grew up in the Midlands, and began playing aged 7, initially on cornet but quickly changing to tenor horn. She progressed through her school’s junior ensembles and over her time there, became principal horn in the senior wind and brass bands.  She has performed in some prestigious venues including Symphony Hall, Carnegie Hall and The Royal Albert Hall, and participated in joint concerts with the Cory Band and Tredegar Town Band.  Lucy was keen to continue playing when she left school and having heard about the thriving brass band scene up North, was thrilled to receive an offer to study Music Technology at the University of Huddersfield.

During her first year Lucy played for the University brass band, and she hopes to continue this next year and beyond. Lucy has looked for a permanent band since she moved to Huddersfield, and was really pleased to be offered a seat with Lindley.

HARRY NEWTON

Harry Newton is 14 years old and lives in Delph, Oldham.
He is a student at Chethams school of music where he studies under David Thornton.
Harry is also principal euphonium for the Oldham music centre youth brass band and the Greater Manchester youth brass band.
In his spare time Harry plays cricket for Shaw and has a season ticket for the country’s greatest football team, Manchester City.

IAN GILL

Ian was taught to play the cornet in the Young People’s Band at Wombwell (South Yorkshire) Salvation Army. As time progressed he graduated onto euphonium and was promoted to the Senior Band at Wombwell. As his work took him to Leeds, he joined the Leeds West Hunslet Salvation Army Band and Brass Impact, a Salvation Army brass group based in Castleford. However after a while he stopped playing for many years.

Upon retirement from work, Ian re-joined Brass Impact (and still plays with the band). Subsequently he joined YBS Concert Brass, and then moved to Slaithwaite Band before joining Lindley, where we are lucky to be able to feature him regularly as a soloist with the band.

GILLIAN KNIGHT

After first picking up a Baritone aged 9 Gillian’s banding life started shortly after at the first ever rehearsal of what is now Huddersfield Youth Brass Ensemble’s Junior band. A year or so later she progressed to the Youth Band and then later moved up to the Senior band where she stayed until leaving for University.

Whilst studying in Preston Gillian joined a local brass band – The Brindle Band – and from there was invited to also join the Lancastrian Brigade and Corps of Drums which was based at the Fullwood Army Barracks. There she had the honour of performing at all their military events. Being a member of ‘Lancy Brigade’ also meant she had the privilege twice to perform at Dunkirk and the Menin Gate on the annual Dunkirk Veterans Association pilgrimage there. This meant a great deal to Gillian as her Grandad was a ‘Dunkirk Vet’.

Once back home she re-joined what is now called Huddersfield and Ripponden Band and stayed there until eventually leaving to join the Lindley Band.

Gillian says: “Over the last 30 years banding has given me a fulfilling hobby and enabled me to travel with the different bands to places and countries I wouldn’t otherwise have seen, as well as having the advantage of making some great friends along the way.”

LIZ TOBITT

Awaiting Biography

DAVID PICKLES

David started playing when he was 7 or 8 years old after borrowing an instrument from Thornhill Colliery Band. He played in various musical groups at both Batley and Dewsbury Music Centres, including wind bands and orchestras, before at the age of 15 joining his first brass band, Skelmanthorpe.David was a member of the original Kirklees Youth Brass Band and also played with Wilton Brass Ensemble performing in many local clubs. He went on to play with Manor Colliery, Thornhill and briefly Warren Band before joining Aceprint, where he played until 1993. David then took an 18 year break from playing, which was only interrupted by one Area contest with Elland and a couple of concerts with Halifax Concert Band. In September 2012 he started playing again at Grange Moor, a non-contesting band.
In 2013 he was invited to play with The Lindley Band at the Area contest and enjoyed it so much he never left.

VICTORIA OLIVER

Victoria started learning the trombone aged 9 following in the footsteps of her Dad, Grandad and Great Grandad. She played with the National Methodist Youth Brass Band (NMYBB) for 12 years (mainly on 2nd trombone, sometimes on 1st) and toured the UK and beyond extensively with the band.

Her career as a pharmacist took her south and she briefly played with East London Brass in 2005 as well as with Croydon Brass for a couple of years whilst in London.

Victoria says she is very happy to be back in her home county, finally playing for a Yorkshire brass band.

BILLY BROOK

Awaiting Biography.

ANDREW RIPLEY

Awaiting Bio

NIGEL SIMMS

Nigel was taught to play cornet with the Heckmondwike Salvation Army Y.P Band and then moved onto Euphonium with the Yorkshire Bus Company Band until getting married and moving to Huddersfield. During this period he has played with Hinchliffe Mill, Honley, Lindley, Huddersfield Brass & Gawthorpe Victoria.

He joined the Thornhill Band on Solo Baritone and was Secretary at the time when the Band merged with Tingley, due to a shortage of players, and it became the Tingley-Thornhill Band. Then Nigel moved to Jayess Band on Solo Baritone winning the Yorkshire Area Contest and being promoted to the Championship Section with them. Players then left for university and after another merger the Yorkshire Coop Band was formed.

He joined Lindley again in 2004 on 2nd Baritone when the Band was in the Championship Section and more recently has found his Forte on Tuba.

PHIL GOODALL

Phil is from a long tradition of brass banding – over 100 years – and really enjoys having his daughter, Megan, playing in the same band as him.

Phil has been a member of the Lindley Band since 2013 and is really enjoying his time with the band. He came to Lindley from Emley Band where he played for four years. After leaving Emley he had intended to have some time out but that never happened! Prior to his time at Emley Phil was a member of the Grange Moor Brass Band where banding began for the Goodall Family – Phil’s Grandad, Uncles, Sister and Brother all played for the band!

When he’s not busying himself at band Phil likes to spend time with his wife Samantha and two daughters, Megan and April as well as playing the guitar. Phil’s favourite piece is the Call of the Sea.

BEN CLAPHAM

Ben started playing the cornet in 2004 aged 11 when he moved up to secondary school. Soon after he joined the Elland Silver Youth Band where he played until he was19. In 2008 Ben made the change from cornet to Eb bass gaining a seat with the Elland Silver Band in 2010. During his time with the band Ben had the privilege of playing with the band in the 3rd through to Championship Sections as well as qualifying for the national finals on three occasions.

In March 2017 Ben joined us here at Lindley, when he decided to make a complete change by moving to BBb bass.

In his spare time away from banding Ben is an active and enthusiastic member of the Brighouse and Halifax Model Engineers. As well as playing ‘Trains’ Ben takes pride in the fact he is able to build his own live steam engines in his home workshop.

JACOB ROBERTS

Jacob first got into music when he was 7 and watched a video of Status Quo. Since then, he has been to see them live each year including both reunion tours. When he was 11, for Christmas he asked for a drum kit and since then he has played in many school bands and is completing his grade examinations.

Jacob says: ”Pretty much since I started playing the drums, I have had an interest in brass bands. My grandad’s favourite band was Black Dyke, so since he passed away, I have wanted to make him proud and play in a brass band.

In 2011, when I got asked if I wanted to join Lindley on percussion, I could not refuse. It was one of the happiest moments in my life. I started training to be an accountant in late 2012, but I still consider one of my greatest achievements to be promotion to the 1st section with Lindley.”

PETER CLARKE

 Peter’s brass banding started when he was about 12 under the guidance of Andrew Owenson at Queensbury Music Centre Band.  Here Peter learned a lot and had an enjoyable and very successful time.  After 6 years at Queensbury he left to join Hammonds Sauce Works band but being a ‘Briggusser’ there was only one band to play for and Peter was very proud and fortunate to spend approximately 12 years with B&R.   Peter left Brighouse in 1992 to spend more time with his family and Lindley Band is very pleased and fortunate to have him on their percussion team now that he has returned to the brass band fold.

LUCAS WILLIAMSON

Lucas was three when he went to his first brass band concert. Whilst he enjoyed all the music, particularly the James Bond Theme, it was clear that he was inspired by the percussionist. He decided from then that he wanted to play the drums and even had his first mini drum kit the following Christmas.
Lucas’ family moved house when he was five. His new neighbours were brass banders and introduced him to the Hammonds Youth Band, where he played the bass drum and performed in a couple of Christmas concerts. The band closed when Lucas was six, but luckily his tutor Adam Finchett suggested Young Tower Brass at Lindley. Neil Jowett was very encouraging and Lucas was soon accepted into the group playing on a snare drum at first then progressing to full kit. He has enormous pleasure and pride in playing with YTB, much to his family’s delight.
In September 2017, at the age of 10, Lucas was invited to make his senior band debut, which was a dream come true for him. He is thrilled to be gaining experience and help from the Lindley percussionists, and also from Simon Oliver who is a good friend of the band.
At every opportunity Lucas likes to listen to brass bands and particularly enjoys the march contests like Whit Friday and Brighouse.  Lucas spends his spare time on his computer and reading.

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