Soprano Cornet
Malcolm Usher
Malcolm started playing at age 11 years, being inspired and taught to play a brass instrument by his father. He was originally given the Trombone to master but alas never did - the need for long arms meant he could not reach the last position. After joining Hartlepool Silver Band, he was introduced to the cornet - which he considered much lighter and more convenient. When his family moved to Darlington he was enrolled into the School Band and then the Darlington Youth Band. He was taught to play at that time by Ray Pattison and Tony Price. His last teacher was Alfie Hindes. Mal eventually joined Newton Aycliffe Band as Principal Cornet and from there went to the Amoco Band where he switched to Soprano Cornet - not as a volunteer, more of a slowness to move one step back! He subsequently joined Cockerton Silver Band on Soprano Cornet and moved to Fishburn Band in 1984. Influences over the years have included Barry Shaw (Hartlepool Silver's Principal Cornet), Jim Shepherd and Maurice Andre. Malcolm is Fishburn Band's resident computer expert. Formerly holding the position of Band Manager, Mal now holds the position of Librarian. Mal tells us that when he retires from work, he plans to move to the South of France and listen to Arturo Sandoval recordings.
Principal Solo Cornet John White
Along with his wife, Andrea, John joined Fishburn Band in February 2001 from Spennymoor Town Band, having previously played for Lockwood and Gawthorpe Bands. John started playing at 6 years of age and tuition over the years has been provided by George Nicklin, Tim Holmes, Brian Tait and Jim Shepherd. John moved onto Principal Cornet immediately after the area contest in March 2006 having formerly held the position of Assistant Principal for 5 years and featuring as a soloist with the Band. On joining Fishburn it was an ambition of John's to play in the Royal Albert Hall and compete in the Championship Section....and maybe one day win a contest! We were more than happy to initially oblige with a marvellous winning performance on "Jazz" at the Dolphin Centre, Darlington in 2001 and the subsequent appearance at the RAH and now have done it again by qualifying for the Finals in March 2006 and will appear at the RAH in October.
Assistant Principal Solo Cornet John Gill
John has been with Fishburn Band since 1982 and enjoyed a successful period in the position of Principal Cornet from 1990 to 2006 culminating with a win at the Scottish Open Championships in 2005 and concluding with qualification for the National Finals at the Northern Area Championships in March 2006 whilst picking up the prize for best Principal Cornet - for the third time in four years. John commenced playing at school in Hartlepool, aged 14, under the tuition of Russ Nicholson and Bill Buckley. Contesting began with Hartlepool Youth Band, followed by Blackhall Colliery and Head Wrightson Works Band (Middlesbrough Brass). John lists his playing influences as Jim Shepherd and Alan Morrison and also enjoys playing and listening to Big Band music. John, who is a Building Services Manager for 'Housing Hartlepool', was 'instrumental' in the redesign and ultimate refurbishment of the Fishburn Bandroom (following grants from the Lottery and the Foundation for Sports and the Arts). John has been the organiser of the Fishburn Band Fantasy Football League since 1998, although the majority of his spare time is now taken up with maintaining the 'award winning' Fishburn Band website! John is also a founder member of the Fishburn Band 'skinny dipping team', along with Paul Kerry and Clive Parker - consideration is currently being given to the inclusion of photographic evidence on the website! Married to Audrey, who also plays cornet for Fishburn, they have two children, Alison and Kieran.
Paul was first taught to play at the age of 6 by Shildon Salvation Army bandmaster, Fred Smith and was given great support and encouragement by numerous people at the corps, especially his father, George Kerry. Vince Smith (Fred's son) took over the baton when Paul was 10 and became a major influence, as well as being handy for a lift down to Sunbury Court, near London, where the National School of Music (for the Salvation Army) took place each year. On 5 occasions (the fifth time in 1972) Paul was made Principal Cornet of the 'A' band. Paul has happy memories of those days, playing under the baton of the late Leslie Condon and Trevor Davis, also an old chap called Eric Ball (for one day only)! A cornet influence at that time was Jim Shepherd whose old 33's were put to good use as Paul used to play along to solos such as Napoli and Pandora etc (is David Daws even better?). Paul stopped playing altogether in 1978 when he left the Salvation Army but started again in the early 1990's when he began teaching his two sons, Matthew and Ben to play. In 1994 Paul came along to a Fishburn Band concert and met up again with bandmaster, Ian Robinson who invited him along to a practice - and the rest is history! Paul states he feels genuinely privileged to be playing in such a quality band and has just one ambition to realise since starting playing again - to get his lip back to the condition it was when he was a teenager, as well as his body, and his hair.......!!! Another one of Fishburn Band's 'party animals', Paul is also a founder member of the Fishburn Band 'skinny dipping team' (together with Clive Parker and John Gill). Paul now runs his own business repairing and servicing washing machines, driers, dishwashers and many other appliances having spent several years gaining experience with well known dealers. If you want a first class job doing, give Paul a call, or Click here to visit his website. We've heard his rates are very cheap !!!.
Solo Cornet Lyndon Taylor
Lyndon joined to the Band in April 2006, having formerly played Principal Cornet with Spennymoor Town Band and guesting for many local bands. Lyndon and his wife Claire have had a lovely son, Lewis, born in 2007.
His profile will appear here shortly.
Repiano Cornet Anna Ferguson
Anna joined the Band in January 2008 and made her debut at the Brass at the Guild contest in Preston in February 2008. Anna was formerly Principal cornet of Easington Band. Her profile will appear here shortly.
Repiano Cornet Patrick Garner
Patrick first played a brass instrument at the age of ten when his Dad took him along to Aycliffe Brass. He was given a tenor horn, but even then he says that he knew it was a girl's instrument and swapped it for a cornet the following week! After playing for Aycliffe for a few years he joined the Spennymoor Youth and Senior bands where he eventually became Principal Cornet for both by the age of eighteen. During this time Patrick was also lucky enough to win a number of solo competitions around the area. At the beginning of 1995 he was asked to come along to Fishburn's rehearsal by his cornet tutor (Andy Rolfe) who was a member of the band and the rest is history. In 1997 Patrick went to study biochemistry at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. While there he gained a bursary to play Principal Trumpet with the university wind band and symphony orchestra. On leaving University Patrick returned to his beloved North East and made a welcome, permanent return to Fishburn Band. Patrick moved onto Flugel Horn from Fishburn's front row cornet bench in June 2003 and had a baptism of fire as he just managed to get his lip in in readiness for the weekend recording of our second CD and is featured on many of the tracks. Patrick recently took on a 3-month visit to Africa as part of his work with the NHS and returned for Xmas 2006 and since his return has played in the Cornet section moving on to Repiano Cornet.
Helen started playing cornet at the age of 9, taught by Colin Adamson at Chopwell Junior School. In 1979 she became a member of NRBBT and in 1981 joined Consett Whitbread Band. From 1985 Helen played Soprano and it was on this instrument that she moved to Lingdale Silver in 1990. In 1996 Helen joined Boldon Colliery band and had spells on both Soprano and Principal Cornet before joining Fishburn Band in 1998 on the front row. Helen is also a member of the Committee - if you see Helen approach you, run for your wallet/purse as she's in charge of collecting band member's subs and she'll be after your cash!
Tim, who hails from St Helens and has recently finished studying at Durham University, joined the Band in 2005 and has returned home prior to deciding the next stage in his future. Tim also played Principal Cornet for the University Band. He was taught to play by Alan Young and Linda Nicholson and names his main playing influence as Trumpeter Carl Saunders. Tims former Bands are Rainford Silver and St Helens Youth Band. When asked what his ambitions are, Tim just wants to play in Th'Albert Hall again having enjoyed the experience so much at the Finals in October 06 in that famous Kensington Village Hall. Tim has a dark secret....he is a Sheffield United supporter (just like Aud) - Never mind. Tims favourite brass band piece of music is 'Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral' but listens to Indie and Jazz for his leisure.
Second Cornet Jayne Bateman
Jayne joined the Band in August 2007 along with her daughter Wizz. She got off to a dream start with extensive sight reading at our concert in Hexham Abbey showing her excellent ability in fitting in with her new team. Jaynes profile will appear here shortly.
Second Cornet Audrey Gill
Audrey's playing career started with Horden Colliery Band (where her Grandad, Bill Buckley was conductor and her Uncle, Fred Buckley was on Solo Euphonium). After spells with Blackhall Colliery and Head Wrightson Works Band (Middlesbrough Brass) she joined her husband, John, at Fishburn Band in 1988. Highlights include winning the Championship Section of the Northern Area contest in her first year with Fishburn and having the opportunity to compete with the best at the Royal Albert Hall. Audrey was a member of the Committee between 1993 and 2004 and enjoyed the experience of recording the Band's two CD's and working alongside Brian Hillson and his team from B & H Sound Services. Audrey also holds the negatives of that infamous first outing by the Fishburn Band 'skinny dipping team' - what power!
Third Cornet Andrea White
Andrea, along with husband John, joined Fishburn Band in February 2001 from Spennymoor Town Band. Having started to play at 7 years of age, she initially played euphonium whilst at Ouston Primary School. Later, under the tuition of George Nicklin, Andrea played horn before moving to the cornet. Although formerly on flugel horn at Spennymoor, Andrea is now back on cornet.
John (aka Cool Youll) is one of the longest serving members of Fishburn Band, having joined in 1975. He began playing at the age of 12 at Wheatley Hill School being taught by the legendary Gordon Kitto, and his first senior Band was Thornley Colliery in 1972. Originally playing Cornet in his formative years with the Band, John moved back onto Cornet late 2005 having spent a few years on Tenor Horn. John names his playing influences as Jim Shepherd and Alan Morrison. A dedicated family man with 2 sons David and Barry and now a Grandfather with baby sitting duties, he is also a Sunderland supporter in addition to his excellent attendance at rehearsals - so his time management skills are exceptional. Johns best banding memory is playing Checkmate at the Mineworkers contest in Blackpool Winter Gardens with Roger Payne and his favourite brass band piece of music is Festival Overture. So as his favourite artistes are metal kings 'Led Zeplin' and 'Deep Purple' John shows a diverse musical range. John is the resident 'cultural attache' of Fishburn Band with many colourful, descriptive points of view being offered during rehearsals!! It is John's stated ambition to 'hit a top note' while playing his part in Fishburn Band's attempts to become one of the top class Bands over the next decade.
This site is maintained by John and Audrey Gill
All information on this site is the copyright of Fishburn Band and must not be reproduced in any form without our express permission
