RICHARD JONES

Richard’s playing history prior to playing with Lindley consists of Aberystwyth Silver Band, National Youth Brass Band of Wales, National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band.
Having played 15 years with Brighouse he took a sabbatical from playing in 2011 only to return to playing with Lindley during 2014. One of the main reasons for the sabbatical was an increasing work load as a brass teacher with the ACCENT Music Education Hub, where Richard was responsible for delivering whole class brass, small group, individual and SEN tuition and the main conductor for the ACCENT Community Wind Band. In 2017/18 he completed a PGCE in Primary school teaching and at present I am working as both a supply teacher and 1:1 tutor in a Pupil Referral Unit.
Music continues to be a large part of Richard’s life and he enjoys a vast array of different types of music from folk, classical, rock and, of course, brass band. Two of his passions are jazz music and vinyl records. He has been a jazz fan since he was a teenager and has a large collection of recordings, primarily of stars such as Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Wynton Marsalis, Thelonious Monk and the group Loose Tubes alongside a vast collection of brass band and jazz vinyl, the oldest being from 1910.
If you want to know something unexpected about Richard, he is a self- confessed musical hoarder. He collects instruments and enjoys going around charity shops, car boots and house clearances to feed this habit!

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

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PETE RHODES

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CHRIS BAKER

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ANDREW CHANDLER

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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

Lindley is pleased to welcome the highly experienced player Ann Jackson to the first horn seat, following a break from playing.  Her banding journey commenced at the age of 9 with the Dobcross Silver band followed by a stint at Whitworth Vale and Healy. She did 12 years at Marsden,  then moved to Rowntree’s (later Shepherds Group), where she stayed for 14 years interrupted by a short venture to Carlton Main Band with whom she played at the British Open.

Ann can’t knit or make jam but loves banding. She has been a bander for over 50 years and has a medal to prove it! Following some dental problems however she thought that she would never play again, but at Lindley she is enjoying playing again with “fabulous music and lovely people” and is looking forward to her first contest.  Ann’s favourite band test piece is Resurgam.

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.

KEITH JOHNSON

Keith started playing at age 8 with Besses Boys Band, rising to solo euphonium and then graduating to the championship section with Besses o’ th’ Barn Band aged 15.

After a short break in playing while at university, Keith was pulled back into banding by some of his students who asked him to ‘just do this park job’ with Middleton Band….which lasted for about 3 years!

A second 5 year stint at Besses o’ th’ Barn  followed, after which came a patchy ‘retirement’ where over the course of the next 12 years he had the pleasure of playing at the British Open, Pontins and the Midlands Area Championships for Glossop Old Band and the North West Area Championships with Leyland Band.

Keith had previously been a member of Lindley Band for a short spell before ‘retiring again’, before being lured back into playing with the promise of enjoyment and beer.  A promise the band promises faithfully to keep!

The test piece that started it all was Blitz, by Derek Bourgeois, but his favourite test piece is anything that doesn’t feature the euphoniums!

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.

JENNY COOK

Jenny started playing aged 10 whilst growing up in Norfolk. During her teenage years she joined the Drayton Band in Norwich, where she enjoyed her first experience of brass band contesting. Inspired by the Cambridge Masters and the film ‘Brassed Off’, Jenny applied to study Music at Leeds University.

After graduating in 2002 she joined Elland Silver Band on solo baritone and then moved to the United Co-op Yorkshire band where she met husband Andi Cook. Jenny has played with Hebden Bridge and Drighlington bands and comes to Lindley following a stint with Yorkshire Imps.

LIZ TOBITT

Liz began learning an instrument at the age of 9, but not brass! She originally played cello but for various reasons moved on to flute and then clarinet, then played woodwind for about 5 years in concert bands and a swing/jazz band. In her spare time Liz played in a marching band, starting on a fife but quickly progressing to tuned percussion – unlike modern day marching bands, they carried and played their instruments whilst marching as part of the display. Here she first met Les who, following a catch up at a reunion many years later, Liz married in 2017, 30 years after first meeting as friends!

Having sat behind Les at every rehearsal in their post re-union years together, Liz became frustrated at being capable of reading the music but being unable to play a brass instrument. So, at the age of 40, she borrowed a cornet and with help from the Yorkshire Co-op beginners group, started to learn. Since then Liz has played a variety of instruments at several local bands (Wilsden, Clifton and Lightcliffe, West Yorkshire Brass, YBS Concert Band, City of Bradford and Drighlington) before settling at Lindley Band on Baritone in Sept 2015.

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.

JOHN HASTON & VICTORIA OLIVER

John started playing whilst at school in Scotland, firstly on tenor horn then moving to euphonium.  He first ventured on to trombone during his time at Coalburn Silver band.  Then followed a 10 year period in the RAF where he concentrated mainly on trombone, playing with both the RAF Kinloss and the RAF Stafford Voluntary Bands.  In 2003 John joined the Elgin City Band where he was also band secretary.  Alongside playing in this brass band he also played with a local swing band.  5 years ago John and his family came to Yorkshire and he began to experience the iconic brass band experience of this county and John particularly remembers his first Whit Friday. His first Yorkshire band was the Haworth band but he has played with other more local bands including Grange Moor, Huddersfield & Ripponden and Meltham.  He comes to Lindley following a stretch at Skelmanthorpe Prospect Band

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. Following a return up North Victoria says she is very happy to be back in her home county, finally playing for a Yorkshire brass band.  Outside making music Victoria is a dedicated fundraiser for charity and recently ran the London Marathon to raise funds for and awareness of Motor Neurone Disease.

DAVE SEYMOUR

Dave’s first trombone was a Besson Westminster and although not a present, it arrived around his 8th birthday in 1967. It was soon followed by lessons with John Siswick, at Oakes County Junior School. His first musical group was Huddersfield Primary Youth Orchestra, from where he moved up through the ranks to the Senior Orchestra.

In 1970, Dave joined the Huddersfield Youth Wind Orchestra. This experience was perhaps to shape Dave’s future because in 1976, Dave joined the British Army as a musician, becoming a member of the Regimental Band of the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards.  During this time, Dave attended the Army’s musician course at the Royal Military School of Music. Dave’s army service included two stints in Germany, a period in Canada and a 6 month tour in Cyprus.

When he left the Army Dave had a short break from playing, but in 1995 he accepted an invitation to join Slaithwaite band, where he stayed for 12 years. He then moved to Meltham & Meltham Mills Band and played in their 2010 Yorkshire Area (1^st Section) win. He spent a couple of years in the Championship section with Meltham, moving to Uppermill Band in 2013.

In 2014 Dave left brass banding altogether and joined Huddersfield Wind Band. It was whilst here that he was asked to help out with the swing music group, Sundown Swing, soon becoming a regular member.

Dave is absolutely delighted to have become a member of The Lindley Band on bass trombone (for the first time in his 50+ years of Trombone playing!) and the band is extremely happy that he chose them for his banding renaissance.

ANDREW RIPLEY

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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