Conductor
Cornets
Horns
Baritones
Euphoniums
Trombones
Basses
Percussion
Cornets:
Principal Cornet (Mike Pritt).
 Mike Pritt |
Started playing: at age 9 1st band: NWAYB Previous bands: Freckleton, Faireys, Leyland, Newham, Blackpool Brass. Memorable moments: Playing under Walter Hargreaves at Faireys. Won the North West solo competition aged 11. Runner up in the New Zealand National Champion of Champions contest, winning the cornet section. Mike's Hobbies: Painting and running. |
Soprano Cornet (Matt Balson)
 Matt Balson |
Date of Birth: 07/11/70 Started playing in: 1977 1st band: Burnley Youth Band Previous bands: Besses o' th' Barn, RNCM brass band, Wingates, Leyland. Memorable moments: Playing with Fairey at the Europeans in 2011, winning Grand Shield, Senior Cup and French open with Wingates, Grand shield with Leyland. More About Matt : Live in Longridge, teach at a special school for children with autism. Partner of the gorgeous rep player Alison Hobbies: Playing the piano, running, supporting BFC. |
Assistant Principal (Ian Walsh)
Assistant Principal (Ian Walsh)
Date of Birth:1945 Started playing in: 1954 Previous bands: Coldstream Guards Band, Hanwell, Blackpool and Poulton Memorable Moments:
More about Ian: Ian served for 22 years as Principal Cornet with the Coldstream Guards Band. On leaving the Army, he became a Driving Instructor. On joining the Army he spent many years in the London area, and moved back to the North West ten years ago. Ian is married to Marge, who plays Horn in the band
Ian's hobbies: Needlework and Flower arranging (he’s in touch with his feminine side!). |
Solo Cornet (John Squires-Evans)
Date of Birth: Started playing in: 1st band: Previous bands: Memorable moments: More About John: Hobbies:
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Solo Cornet (Robert Richardson)
Date of Birth:22/06/1995 Started playing in: 2005 Previous bands: Lostock Hall Memorable Moments: One of my most memorable moments in banding was going to the 2008 Nationals at Harrogate in the Third Section with Lostock. It was only my second contest, and despite the unsatisfactory result on the day it was really enjoyable! Then a couple of weeks later we played the same piece (Oceans) and won at Fleetwood in the Second Section: it was my first win! With my school band I will never forget playing in Euro Disney last summer, and our forthcoming trip to Lake Garda should be equally memorable. Robert's hobbies: Playing the keyboard and piano for various events including weddings and funerals in my local church. I was part of the winning public speaking team in the Rotary Club of Preston’s Youth Speaks competition for two years. |
Repiano Cornet (Alison Marchment).
Alison Marchment
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Date of Birth: 3/7/78 Started playing in: 1984 1st band: Morecambe. Previous bands: Cottingham. Memorable moments: One of Alison’s nicest memories must be when she bought her pet dog Okey. To keep Okey company, Alison leaves the TV on for him to watch. She is at present training him to use the remote control! Alison’s Hobbies: Alison is also a supporter of Blackburn Rovers.
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2nd Cornet (Mark Fairclough).
 Mark Fairclough |
Date of Birth: 13/03/1961 Started playing in: 1972 1st band: Carr Hill School Previous bands: Freckleton, Hoggarths, Longridge Memorable moments: Meeting Jackie (then second cornet) while playing with Freckleton Band at Lowther Gardens on his 18th birthday – they will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary in 2012 More about Mark: A graduate of Teesside University practices in Lytham as a Physiotherapist - specialising in Musculoskeletal Medicine. Hobbies: Gym, physical fitness, walking, gardening and growing vegetables.
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2nd Cornet (Vacant).
Date of Birth: Started playing in: 1st band: Previous bands: Memorable moments: More About : Hobbies: |
3rd Cornet (Shannon Harper).
Date of Birth: Started playing in: 1st band: Previous bands: Memorable moments: More About Shannon: Hobbies: |
3rd Cornet (Alan Gregory).
Alan Gregory
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Date of Birth: 20/12/85 Started playing in: 1995 1st band: Blidworth Welfare Band Previous bands: Nottingham City Transport, Stalybridge Old, Newstead Brass Memorable moments:
More About Alan: Alan is a well-travelled tax-dodger, studying English Literature at the University of Salford before completing a Masters in the Gothic Imagination at the University of Stirling. He is now a Ph.D student at Lancaster University writing a thesis on violence and masculinity in contemporary Gothic fiction.
Alan's Hobbies: The majority of Alan’s leisure time is spent reading, but he does occasionally indulge in other pastimes including listening to live music, watching films on the big screen and the consumption of real ale. He also, regrettably, continues to follow the declining fortunes of Mansfield Town Football Club. |
3rd Cornet (Rachael Shore).
 Rachael Shore |
Date of Birth: 31/12/78
Started playing in: 1992 1st band: Blackburn and Darwen 'B' Previous bands: Lancashire Youth Band Memorable moments: Rachael recalls the time when she won The 1st Section National Finals in 1997. This was her 1st ever contest. Rachael also mentioned the time when she played 3rd Man on Jazz at the Area Contest. Her comments were 'we came 4th and Matt, on Principal Cornet, was brilliant!' Rachael’s Hobbies: Her favourite (and only) hobby is drawing the raffle in Ponky's on a Thursday night. Rachael also made a comment that 'it's time I won the tray of meat! Paul and Diane seem to win far too often!' |
Deputy B Flat Cornet and Band Contest Secretary (Ian Threlfall).
 Ian Threlfall |
Date of Birth: 23/06/68 Started playing in: 1979 1st band: Freckleton Previous bands: Poulton-Le-Fylde Memorable moments: Trell, (he likes to be called this), recalls being told at the tender age of 11 years old, after practicing like mad for weeks, that he wouldn’t be playing at The 4th section National Finals in London. From sadness to delight even though it came 15 years later in 1997 when Freckleton Band won The 1st Section National Championships at The Symphony Hall in Birmingham. More about Trell: Trell started playing at the age of 10 years old at the old stable block, twice a week, behind The Coach & Horses Public House. He had tuition from other members of the main band but the main person who started his cornet career was a gentleman called Jimmy Little who was in those early days a “very old man”. Jimmy was a very strict tutor and wouldn’t stand for any messing around! Within twelve months of starting playing Trell had been promoted to 3rd cornet in the main band and over a period of 5 years went onto become one of the Tutti Cornet players on the front row. On leaving school and starting work Trell couldn’t practice as much as he had been use to and his standard of playing unfortunately dropped as the band progressed and he relinquished his place on the front row and spent some time on the back row of the cornet section. Soon after starting work, Poulton le Fylde were looking for new players and Trell decided to move to Poulton for a fresh approach to his playing. Trell spent 10 years with Poulton playing within the cornet section and for 3 years on Flugel Horn. In 1996, Rad, who is also one of Trell’s best friends, asked him if he was interested at coming back to Freckleton, but will be on the back row of the cornet section. Freckleton at that time were a better standard of band and Trell knew that playing either on the front row or on the Flugel Horn seat would be very difficult due to the standard of playing required. Trell decided to stand down as a resident member of the cornet section due to work commitments. Kath (other member of the cornet section) had a little boy ( Christopher ) and both wouldn't be able to attend rehearsals due to constant baby sitting problems. Trell decided to still keep the position of Contest Secretary. Trell’s Hobbies: Trell supports Preston North End and is a regular supporter. His other main hobby is spending as much time as he can with his son, Christopher. Pictures of Christopher can be seen in our Toddlers Area. Trell can be contacted on: E-Mail: trellandkath@blueyonder.co.uk Tel: 01772 517204 |
Bagpipes:
Bagpiper (Chris Wilson).
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Chris joined the Boys Brigade as a Bugler and Drummer at a very early age and after leaving school at 16 decided on a career as a drummer in the forces, serving with the regimental band and corps of drums of the Queens Lancashire regiment for 12 years, playing the drums bugle and fife, and taking part in many major military events over the years.
After leaving the forces and settling in Freckleton, Chris joined the Freckleton band and played percussion for concerts and contests for a number of years. He still plays with the band on the marching engagements
and now plays concert percussion for the Freckleton has-binns.
His interest in the bagpipes started during his time in the forces, and he is self taught, he now plays the pipes at various functions and events around Lancashire.
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