Basses:

Jonathan Hall

Date of Birth: 25/06/68.

Started Playing: 1978.

First Band: Storey’s of Lancaster !!!

Previous Bands: Swinton, Hanwell, (Contest Deps)

Education:

Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, Institute of Historical Research, Université de la Sorbonne

Memorable Moments:

Organising the ceremonial music for a visit by the queen when working as Master of Music at the Scot’s Kirk in Paris.

After discovering new biographical information on a very, very obscure Fifteenth century musician at the court of Edward IV, being commissioned to write articles for the Grove Dictionary and the Dictionary of National Biography.

More About John:

Jonathan is currently employed as Head of Brass for the Cumbria Schools Music Service. Although initially trained as a tuba player, Jonathan branched out into the mysterious world of Church music and held a number of positions as organist and choir master, including Windsor Parish Church, and the Scot’s Church Paris. After teacher training Jonathan taught at Rossall School before taking up his current position in Cumbria. As a keen composer/arranger Jonathan has been involved in a wide range of projects. Recent commissions have included midi transcriptions for educational websites, atmospheric music for an extended multi disciplinary project based on the Rime of the Ancient Mariner as well as a number of backing tracks for hypnotherapy tapes!

Jonathan can be contacted on: jmh3412@hotmail.com

Website (Score downloads) http://www.sibeliusmusic.com/cgi-bin/user_page.pl?url=jhall

Mark Rossall

Date of Birth: 1945.

Started playing in: 1955.

1st band: Freckleton.

Previous bands: Dutton Forshaw, Poulton – Le - Fylde.

Memorable moments:
· Mark recalls when Freckleton won The 1st Section National Finals.
· He also enjoyed winning The Land O’ Burns Contest at Troon.

More about Mark:

Well, Mark certainly is an ‘all rounder’! He has played Principle Cornet, Solo Euphonium, Solo Horn, 1st Baritone and

E Flat Bass, all at Freckleton Band!

Mark’s whole family have been associated with the band, starting with his Great Grandfather who was one of the bands founder players. You will no doubt see a picture of his Great Grandfather in our Band History section.
His Grand Father and Great Uncle (Tom), both played Trombone with the band and each completed 50 years of service.
Mark’s father was a non-player but contributed as the bands secretary for 25 years, he is now the bands Life President.
Lastly, but not lastly, Mark’s brother John used to play Solo trombone before he moved away to Sussex. John is still banding in that area.

Mark's Hobbies:

Mark smiled when asked this and said:

"Hobbies?, I have Grandchildren, there is no time for hobbies"

Mark can be contacted on: mark@mrossall.freeserve.co.uk

Andy Cattanach

Date of Birth: 19/07/72.

Started playing in: 1986.

1st bands: Lancashire Youth Band and Darwen Band.

Previous bands: Swinton, Fodens, Besses, Greggs Bakery and Faireys.

Memorable moments:

Andy recalls the following Brass Band memories:

• The time he was Principal BB Flat Bass with The National Youth Band of Great Britain, playing under Richard Evans and Bramwell Tovey.
• Winning The European in 1992 with Britannia on Year of the Dragon.
• Winning The Nationals in 2004 with Faireys.
• Meeting Wilfred Heaton and recording his pieces with Britannia and Howard Snell.

Other Memories:

• Playing in Big Bands backing artists including James Morrison, Bobby Shew, Allen Vizutti, Mark Nightingale and Don Lusher etc.
• Andy still mentions the time when he achieved Grade 4 Merit on the Trumpet!

More about Andy:

Andy is a Network Manager at St. Wilfrid's Technology College in Blackburn.

Apart from this, Andy also manages to find time to be a member of The Wigan Jazz Club Big Band, and, also plays in The Intrada Brass Ensemble.

He is also Tutor for the Lancashire Youth and Wigan Youth Brass Bands.

Andy’s Hobbies:

Andy really enjoys to play golf, he does stress however, that he is only an amateur!

He is also a member of C.A.M.R.A. (Campaign for Real Ale).

Hmmm. we don't seem to get any 'freebies' at band rehearsals though!

Andy can be contacted on: acattanach@btinternet.com

George Barker

Date of Birth: 14/09/68.

Started Playing: 1982.

First Band: Stacksteads Band (Bacup)

Previous Bands: Besses o’th Barn ,Greenalls.

Education:

Sutton High School, St.Helens

Memorable Moments:

Playing in the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain.

Meeting the late Great John Fletcher.

Founder Member of the “Besses Formation Drinking Team” along with

Ian Dyson, John Binns, Nick Day and Dave Aston.

Coining the phrase “Big as Bo**cks” when referring to the sound produced by the  Bass section at Besses in the late 80’s. 

More about George:

Currently Administration Manager of Makro in Preston Lancs.

Only ever played BBb Bass which is a rarity.

Played for most of the bands in the North West over the years. 

Georges Hobbies:

Sampling the local innkeeper’s finest mead. 

George can be contacted on: george.barker@makro.co.uk or george.barker@sky.com

.

Gareth Maybury

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