Biographies – The Lindley Band

Richard Jones

Soprano Cornet

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!

VACANCY

Principal Cornet

Alison Pickles

Solo Cornet

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

Ethan Hardman

Solo Cornet

Awaiting Biography

VACANCY

Solo Cornet

Chris Baker

Repiano Cornet

Awaiting Biography.

Helen Craddock

2nd Cornet

Awaiting Biography.

Andrew Chandler

2nd Cornet

Awaiting Biography

Paul Harrison

3rd Cornet

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.

Amanda Tasker

3rd Cornet

Awaiting Biography

Owen Wedgewood

Flugel Horn

Awaiting Biography

Phil Garlick

Solo Horn

Phil started his banding at Hade Edge band, aged 11. His musical career includes playing for Skelmanthorpe band and holding the Solo Horn position at both Carlton Main and Hepworth bands.

He has also had conducting successes with the Skelmanthorpe Prospect band, who during his 7-year reign, he led from the 4th to the 1st section. Phil is now retired following a 40-year career as a peripatetic brass teacher in the Kirklees area.

Jo Dixon

1st Horn

Awaiting Biography

Lauren Jones

2nd Horn

Lauren started playing the cornet whilst at junior school and went on to play with both the Dewsbury Music Centre Swing and Wind Bands. She gave up playing when she went to University but came out of retirement to play percussion with Lindley in 2015. Then followed a stint on percussion with VBS Poynton band. Three years ago, Lauren got the bug for brass again and took up Eb Horn.

Matt Stringer

Solo Euphonium

After moving onto Euphonium aged 13 and Matt played for various groups within the Manchester Music Service. He joined his first registered brass band aged 16 and went on to play for several bands including Besses Boys Band, Blackley Band, Moston & Beswick, Greenfield, Pemberton Old Band and Marsden.

In 2007 he retired from playing and took up the Musical Director’s baton, firstly with the Middleton Band then with Coppull and Standish Band, where he remained as MD until 2020, when the pandemic brought an end to his banding career. Matt’s many band successes include becoming champions in both North West and Yorkshire Areas, winning back to back victories at the Butlins contest, being awarded best soloist at the Yorkshire Area contest and conducting a band to victory at the 3rd section national championship

Karen Tattersall

2nd Euphonium

Karen started her brass band journey on cornet whilst at Wardle High School, however after around a year she moved on to euphonium. Aged 14 she joined championship band British Aerospace where she stayed for 6 years, only leaving due to college commitments.

In 2003 Karen joined the Whitworth Vale and Healey Band, where she met her husband. In 2009 they started a family, and Karen took a break from playing for 9 years. She returned to banding with the Goodshaw band where she held the solo euphonium seat for two years. Karen has now joined Lindley following a period with Haslingden and Helmshore band

Oliver Booth

Solo Baritone

Oliver started playing cornet at age 8 with Kirklees Music School. He joined the Holme Valley Music Centre and the Hade Edge Junior Band shortly after. He moved onto the baritone two years later and was invited to join the Skelmanthorpe Prospect band age 12, eventually working his way onto Solo Baritone, a seat he held for several years. The highlight here was playing with the band at the National Finals in 2013. Oliver also played with the Kirklees Youth Brass Band around this time. He owes his brass band career to the well renowned Phil Garlick who taught him from age 8 through to achieving his grade 8 on Baritone.

Departing to University in Newcastle in 2015, Oliver took a break from banding. However, in the third year of his degree he was back at Skelmanthorpe as his year in industry work placement brought him back home. After graduation, he played for a time with the Skelmanthorpe Brass Group. Following the completion of the further studies required for his career, has now joined Phil at the Lindley Band and is looking forward to a new era of banding and the challenges ahead

Nigel Simms

2nd Baritone

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.

David Pickles

Solo Trombone

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.

Kath Woods

2nd Trombone

Kath started learning brass aged 13 with Knaresborough Silver and Tewit Youth Bands, having realised that flute was not for her!! After university, she was invited back to Tewit and became MD of the Training and Junior Bands until 2018. She also joined the Yorkshire Evening Post Band on euphonium and remained with them until they folded in 2002. A brief spell with Stanley Newmarket Colliery Band saw a first win at the Yorkshire Area contest and two visits to the National Finals.

In 2005, Kath joined the Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel Band on baritone and enjoyed becoming a National Champion in her hometown, experiencing the British Open and gaining promotion to the championship section for the first time. She left Imps in 2009 to fulfil a lifelong ambition - to learn trombone! She moved to Knottingley Silver Band and, after a stint on cornet, jumped at the chance to fill a 2nd trombone vacancy in 2013. Her time at KSB included an Area win and two more trips to the Finals. Relocation to West Yorkshire in 2019 meant Imps became Kath’s local band and she rejoined on trombone, seeing them promoted back up to the top section in 2023. Kath is a current member of YEP Brass, an orchestral brass tentet founded by ex-members of the YEP Band and based in Aberford.

Andy Tasker

Bass Trombone

Andy – or Mr T as he is known - comes from a brass banding family in Moston, Manchester. He started playing backrow cornet with Moston & Beswick Band aged 9 and was taught in secondary school by Alan Jones, a cornet champion from Wales. He was principal cornet with Cobden Chadwick Band and had a brief spell on soprano cornet with the Manchester Bus Company Band

Andy then switched to lower brass and played Eb and BBb bass, - mentored by his close friend, Colin Aspinall of Black Dyke and JSVP fame. Then, after teaching himself to read bass clef, and some tuition from Brighouse and Rastrick’s Graham ‘Hutchy’ Hutchinson, he took up the bass trombone. Andy has played for various brass bands such as Boarshurst, Bolton (Hoover) and Blackley. He also plays guitar/bass Guitar and was lead vocalist/bassist in a 70's blues rock band. Andy is really looking forward to working with Alan Widdop and the Lindley Band.

Mark Tweedle

Eb Bass

A Manxman by birth Mark started his playing career on tenor horn with Douglas Town Band and the Manx Youth Band. He subsequently joined Yorkshire Imperial Metals Band whilst at Leeds University and was to stay with them for ten years during which time they became British Open and National Champions and won the Yorkshire Area five times.

Work took him to Kent where he was appointed Musical Director of the Medway Band, taking them from the second section to the Championship in four years. On returning to Yorkshire he conducted Lockwood Band when they won the Yorkshire first section. Work commitments put an end to banding for a number of years. He returned to playing ten years ago and has since performed with several Yorkshire bands on Euphonium and Eb Bass.

Colin Aspinall

Eb Bass

Colin started his career on a Eb Bass at 10 years old; playing with Shaw Salvation Army Band. In 1968 he joined Wingates Temperance Band, moving to Black Dyke in early 1970. He remained at Black Dyke until the formation of James Shepherd Versatile Brass. Colin was a founder member of JSVB and, with this esteemed group he enjoyed many tours, recordings, and live concerts throughout Great Britain, Europe, and Australia.

Throughout his long-established career, Colin has been in demand as a soloist, and was featured as a guest soloist on the Virtuosi Band of Great Britain’s final recording He was also the automatic choice on Eb Bass with the well renowned Kings of Brass Colin retook his JSVB tuba seat when the band reformed in 2008 and remained with them until their final ever concert in 2015, bringing Colin’s service to a total of 29 years with this famous ensemble

Ben Clapham

BBb Bass

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 was 19.

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.

Tony Thacker

BBb Bass

Awaiting Biography

Jacob Roberts

Percussion

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

Percussion

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.

Catherine LLoyd

Percussion

Catherine joined the brass band world later in life, joining Friendly Band, Sowerby Bridge in 2017. However, music has always been part of her life, learning to play piano from an early age and reaching grade 8 in both playing and theory. When her children were in primary school she taught music on a voluntary basis for 7yrs, also organising and leading the music every month for the church and school music group.

When Catherine went to see Karl Jenkins conduct his composition The Armed Man she was blown away by the percussion section and decided this was where her next musical journey would lead. She initially tried kit, but on joining her first brass band (Friendly Band) she found that she preferred timpani (which she loves), glockenspiel, tambourine, together with everything else a percussionist needs to play! In the summer of 2023, Catherine joined both Littleborough Brass Band and The Lindley Band to progress her learning and experience. She has now committed fully to Lindley and is proud to be a part of the great percussion team there.