Basses:

Peter Lockett

Peter Lockett:

GRNCM, PPRNCM, ALCM, PGCE,
PGDipManEd, AdvDipPrimaryTraining.

Peter began his musical career at the age of eight when he joined the church choir, taking part in several RSCM choir courses and learning the recorder in primary school. At the age of 11 he began to study Piano and started to learn the Euphonium. He joined the Flixton Silver Band in 1970. Soon afterwards he attended the North West Youth Band and later joined Lancashire Youth Band, eventually becoming a member of the Senior Band. One of the conductors he played under at this time was Geoffrey Brand.

Peter also played with the Barton Hall Works Band, based at Patricroft, Eccles. This was a non-contesting band, directed by Hugh Parry (ex Wingates) and Oliver Howarth, father of Elgar Howarth, the famous trumpet player/international orchestral conductor.
At 17, Peter had the opportunity of joining the famous CWS Manchester Band where he played Euphonium for two years before moving on to the Tuba.
Peter studied Tuba and Piano at the Royal Northern College of Music, graduating in 1980 whilst at the same time being awarded the Professional Performance Diploma of the College. He was a member of the Northern Universities Brass Ensemble.
Between 1977 and 1982 Peter played with the Halle Orchestra, the Halle Brass Ensemble, the English National Opera North, the Welsh National Opera, the English Sinfonia and other professional combinations.

Peter returned to the CWS Manchester Band playing Eb and BBb Bass as required in the late seventies and eighties, before moving to the Leyland Vehicles Band in 1982 as Solo Eb Bass. He maintained a link with the Leyland Band between 1982 and 1989 serving as assistant MD to Richard Evans between 1984-1986. Peter helped the Swinton Band before moving fulltime to play with the William Fairey Band between 1988-1990. He has guested with most of the leading brass bands in this country.
Peter has conducted several bands in the North of England: Newton Heath Band, Warburton's Bakery Band and the Flixton Band all qualified for the National Finals under his guidance.

In 1981 Peter joined the Music Service at Wigan and went on to become Head of Brass for the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and was Musical Director to the Wigan Youth Band, again enjoying contest success and touring abroad on several occassions visiting USA, Holland, Luxembourg, Australia, Denmark, Germany and Austria.
Peter has adjudicated as several music festivals for Youth, Brass Solo Championships and Choir Festivals. He has made guest conducting appearances with several bands including Wingates. He has lectured and conducted workshops and Summer Music Schools and was invited to spend time in Denmark during the late 1980's coaching several bands in and around the Copenhagen area.

The greatest influences on his performing life have come from Nigel Seaman (Euphonium and Tuba Tutor), Stuart Roebuck, the Halles Tuba player, his College tutor, John Fletcher (tuba virtuoso), and the Euphonium players, Lyndon Baglin, David Moore, Marcus Cutts and Trevor Groom. Influential conductors include: Owen Arwell Hughes, Sir Charles Groves, Walter Suskind, Elgar Howarth, Geoffrey Brand, Major Peter Parkes, Derek Garsude, Edward Gregson, Eric Ball, and Brydon Thomas. He has had the privilege of knowing and performing with Harry Mortimer, Alex Mortimer, Howard Snell, James Scott, Eric Ball, David King and Maurice Handford. Probably the greatest influence on his band training methods has come from listening to and admiring the work of Stanley Boddington at GUS Footwear in the 1970's and working with Elgar Howarth, Roy Newsome and Richard Evans.

Peter's favourite Band music includes: Journey to Freedom, High Peak, Blitz, Cloudcatcher Fell, Odin, Connotations, Dances & Arias, Fireworks, Contest Music, Essence of Time, English Heritage, Severn Suite, Epic Symphony and Spectrum to name a few.

Since leaving the Music Advisory and Support Service in 1994, Peter has worked full time in primary education. In 1999 he was appointed Head of Music at Kirkham Grammar Junior School.

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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