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Solo contest win 1976

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A solo contest win as a cornet player in 1976!

The gentleman in the centre of the picture was the adjudicator for the day, the Scottish banding legend Mr. Hugh Johnstone from Dalmellington.

Black Dyke Mills Horns c.1988

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The best horn section I ever had the privilege to play in. Simon Jones, ex. GUS solo horn player, on 2nd horn and Trevor McCormick, ex. Principal Cornet of CWS Glasgow on 1st. We played together again in the 1990's at Faireys with some success.

Black Dyke RAH 2010

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My final contest performance as Solo Horn at Black Dyke under Professor Nicholas Childs at the National Finals in 2010


The Three Tenors

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A special photo with two of my tenor horn playing heroes - Gordon Higginbottom and Kevin Wadsworth. Taken in Blackpool, March 2015



Accompanying the King

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Taking the Brighouse & Rastrick band through their paces in 2011, accompanying cornet soloist David King.

Versatile Dross

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With David Childs, Bob Childs, Simone Rebello, Brian Taylor, Alan Morrison, Steve Sykes and Nick Hudson.

Just as well there isn't any audio with this one! 


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Grimethorpe 2019

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Conducting Grimethorpe at St. Georges Hall, Bradford with singer John Watterson and bassist Hugh Bradley in the world premiere of a dozen new arrangements of the music of Yorkshire born songwriter Jake Thackray

La Banda Europa

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The 40 piece La Banda Europa put together by Scots musician Jim Sutherland. As the name suggests the band draws on musicians from across Europe to perform music composed by Jim.

Abbey Road Studios 2012

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Conducting Grimethorpe in the world famous Studio 2, where The Beatles recorded, in a session for the opening ceremony of the London Olympics in 2012. In the middle of the front row, in the black t shirt, is Rick Smith from "Underworld" who wrote the music which I orchestrated for the band.

Black Dyke 1992

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A recording session in early 1992 at Dewsbury Town Hall for the "Broadway Brass" album with the great James Watson leading the band

Owen Farr

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A special weekend in Aberdare, South Wales in June 2017 co-producing, Owens' astonishing solo CD recording with the Cory band of arrangements of Paganini's fiendishly difficult violin solos

Faireys 1993

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A recording session for the Faireys "Double Champions" CD with Shaun Crowther and Geoff Harrop the centre of attention!



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WOMAD Festival 2017

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Conducting Tubular Brass at WOMAD in July 2017 performing Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells".

A bit different from the usual brass band audience!

Harry Mortimer 1988

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A visit by the great Harry Mortimer to Black Dyke's bandroom in 1988. I think the rehearsal was for a BBC recording of the Denis Wright arrangement of Handel's Messiah. The recording was done in Huddersfield Town Hall with the Huddersfield Choral Sociaty and the massed bands of Black Dyke and Fodens

Tubular Brass Royal Albert Hall 2017

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Excerpts from Tubular Bells and a few prog rock numbers at the Royal Albert Hall in October 2017 complete with spectacular light show!


Sydney 2001

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With my old friend and fellow horn player Kevin Wadsworth at the top of Sydney Harbour Bridge during one of Grimethorpe's tours to Australia

Carnegie Hall New York

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With Grimethorpe Colliery band rehearsing for an evening performance in Carnegie Hall, New York during a tour in 2003. 

The MD is Garry Cutt.

Four Cornet legends

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Major Peter Parkes and Black Dyke Mills band accompanying legendary principal cornet players of the band - from left to right - Willie Lang, James Shepherd, Phillip McCann and Maurice Murphy.

The occasion was the British Bandsman Centenary concert at the Free Trade Hall, Manchester in September 1986