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!

Bethany Moore

Principal Cornet

Bethany started her playing career at Cobden and Chadwick band and has had spells at Uppermill on both flugel and cornet, and on front row at both Wingates, and Hepworth. Bethany joins the band on Principal cornet, having previously held this seat at Longridge, Besses and Freckleton.

She studied at the RNCM for 4 years under Roger Webster and prior to joining Lindley Bethany was Principal Cornet at Old Hall Brass

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

Paul Moore

Solo Cornet

Paul played front row at Cobden Chadwick Band followed by a long break from playing in the late 1990’s when the family came along. When he returned to banding it was on the front row at Boarshurst Band.

Then followed spells at Uppermill, Whitworth Vale & Healey, Longridge, Besses, and Freckleton. Paul joins Lindley on front row from Old Hall Brass

Chris Baker

Repiano Cornet

Awaiting Biography.

Andrew Chandler

2nd Cornet

Awaiting Biography.

VACANCY

2nd Cornet

VACANCY

3rd Cornet

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.

Sophie Stones

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.

Benjamin Freeland

1st Horn

Awaiting Biography

Lauren Pickles

2nd Horn

Awaiting Biography

Neil Holmes

Solo Euphonium

Neil’s interest in music Started at the age of 10 years when every Saturday morning he used to shin up a lamp post outside his local school to listen and watch the local music centre band. One morning the conductor Mr Brian Robinson came out and invited him in.

He was then invited to join the Hebden Bridge Junior Band on Euphonium and was one of the founder members there. From here he progressed up into the senior band and enjoyed playing with them in the 2nd section. After leaving school Neil went to Salford College of Technology to study music. Here he then learned to play Trombone as a second instrument. He has played with several bands and Orchestras over the years, Lindley Band being one and this will be the third time he has played with this band. Neil has many great banding memories and hope to capture many more in the future with Lindley Band.

Andrea Stead

2nd Euphonium

Andrea started playing with Huddersfield Youth Brass Ensemble at the age of 11 and remained with this organisation for 14 years. She moved to Slaithwaite Band on 2^nd baritone and was with them for 30 years, playing up and down the euphonium/baritone line.

Andrea more recently had a spell at Yorkshire Imps band but joins Lindley following a return to Slaithwaite.

David Woodward

Solo Baritone

David Woodward brings great experience to the solo baritone seat at Lindley. He has previously played with bands at both sides of the Pennines, including Elland, Marsden, Yorkshire Imps and Uppermill.

He has played with Lindley twice before, most recently in the early 90’s and returns following a period with Diggle band.

Louise Kershaw

2nd Baritone

Louise started playing the tenor horn at the age of 11 with Boarshurst Youth Band, then went on to Greenfield Band. From there she moved to Diggle and spent 10 years there before moving to Uppermill Band on Solo Baritone.

Louise returned to Diggle on horn and, following a 3 year stint there, joined Lindley in 2022

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.

John Haston

2nd Trombone

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

Dave Seymour

Bass Trombone

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 (1st 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.

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.

Nigel Simms

Eb Bass

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.

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.

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.