I began playing the cornet with [bands/askern-colliery|Askern Colliery Band] in 1943 moving on to [bands/carlton-main-frickley-colliery-band|Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band]. I joined the Regimental Band of the Welsh Guards in Coronation Year 1953, During this period I guested with [bands/morris-motors|Morris Motors Band] under [conductors/harry-mortimer|Harry Mortimer]. On leaving the Army I rejoined Carlton Main.

In 1960 I was invited to join the Munn and Felton’s Band later renamed [bands/virtuosi-gus-band|GUS (Footwear) Band]. I joined the National Association of Brass Band Conductors first as an Associate Member for two years in 1963. During this time I had my first taste of success as a conductor when I won the 3rd Section of the Northamptonshire Brass Band Association Contest with the [bands/kettering-rifles|Kettering Rifle Band]. I eventually became the GUS (Footwear) Principal Cornet player and during this period won the Solo Championship of Great Britain in 1973 and also won the highest placed cornet on three separate occasions.

In 1967 I commenced brass teaching in Schools for Huntingdon and Peterborough C.C. I formed and conducted the Huntingdon and Peterborough Youth Brass Band which won the London and Southern Counties Regional (Youth Section) on three occasions qualifying for the National Finals in London.

When I left the GUS (Footwear) Band I was invited to conduct the Cambridge Band (later renamed Cambridge Co-operative Band). In 1975 we won the London and Southern Counties Regional Second Section and were placed 2nd in the Final and we were immediately promoted to Championship Section (no first section in those days). We had much contesting success and appeared regularly on BBC Radio programmes and also some TV appearances. During the middle of the 70’s I was invited to play with the [bands/grimethorpe-colliery-band|Grimethorpe Colliery Band] on the Bicentennial tour of the USA. I stayed with the band for a further three years - it was during the time the band were playing exciting new works under Elgar Howarth.

In 1980 I was promoted to the post of Senior Instrumental Teacher for the Cambridge Area Education Authority where I was also responsible for the Music Service ‘after school’ activities. I conducted another brass band called the North Cambridge Youth Brass Band, formed from my pupils in the schools where I taught. This band won the London and Southern Counties Regional (Youth Section) qualifying for the National Finals on two occasions. Most of these pupils found their way into the local brass bands. Meanwhile the Cambridge Co-operative Band won the London and Southern Counties Regional Championship Section Contest in 1979.

I also conducted the Cambridge Youth Concert Band (Woodwind, Brass and Percussion) for 5 years. The band appeared three times in the finals of the ‘Music for Youth Festival’ in the Royal Festival Hall. Incidentally, many fine young players were members of these youth bands including Lindsey Shilling (Principal Trombone of the Royal Opera House) Helen Vollam (Principal Trombone of the BBC Symphony Orchestra) and Alison Balsom, the brilliant International Trumpet Soloist. When I left the Cambridgeshire County Music Service and after ending my conducting period with the Cambridge Co-operative Band. Despite having offers to conduct other Championship Section Bands, I made a conscious decision to concentrate on adjudicating. My conducting was then limited to occasional rehearsals with various local bands (if my adjudicating commitments allowed it).