Cornet Section
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! have been playing Cornet since the age of 15 where I started playing in the Rushden Town Band beginners group. I used to stay on for the main rehearsal as my Dad was in the band and used to play a bit on the back row as well as playing a bit of percussion (mainly crashing symbols!). I stayed with the band for 8 years, mainly playing back row cornet, but I did play tenor horn for a while. Since moving to Corby in 2003 I have played Repiano Cornet with the Corby Silver Band, which is where I am currently.Corby Silver
At 10 years of age, Margaret was taught to play the cornet by her uncle - `Father` Kitchen and very soon was competent enough to join Fairfield (Buxton) Band in her home county of Derbyshire.
In 1968, her family relocated to Northamptonshire and the first thing she did was find a band to join. The nearest one being Wollaston Town Band, conducted by Mr Ernest Boddington. Eager to progress, and much to the disappointment of Mr Boddington, Margaret auditioned for Rushden Temperance Band under the baton of Denzil Stephens and was invited to become their first female member in 1969. Also during this period, she successfully became a member of the Northamptonshire Youth Band, being principal cornet prior to leaving in 1973. In 1985, she left the now re-named Rushden Windmill Band to take the Rep position with Towcester Studio Band, conducted by Peter Wain and appeared at the Royal Albert Hall with them. In 1993, due to personal circumstances she took a break from banding but did help out at Moulton 77 Band when their principal cornet player was taken ill. Having resigned herself to the fact that her `banding` days were over, a persuasive John Fletcher, who was conducting a band only a few minutes from where she was living – Raunds Temperance - `dragged` her to a rehearsal which led to her agreeing to help out at a contest. The following 7 years are what Margaret claims were her best banding years – being part of a band that worked and breathed as a team – finding success after success and progressed from 4th to Championship section. Unfortunately the `bubble burst` and she left to join Kibworth for a short spell but returned.
Her main interest now is “Boobs & Brass” where most of her spare time is spent working with Jane to organise players, concerts and fund raising for Breast Cancer. She never imagined that this unique band would evolve into what it has become but feels it is great to try to bring something different to the `great British brass band movement` and at the same time – be able to help to raise funds for a much deserving charity.Raunds Temperance
Started playing trumpet at the age of 11 yrs and gained a music Scholarship at the Stantonbury Music Centre (now Milton Keynes Music Service). Played in various orchestras, wind bands and brass bands, particularly Stantonbury Brass band, whom she played with between 1992 and 1996 and made it to the top chair all the way from 3rd of 3rd cornet in that time!
Went on to study music (trumpet) at the University of Huddersfield (1996-1999) and whilst in Yorkshire became ever more familiar with brass bands and playing the cornet more often than not, gaining the privilege to play in the University brass band under the direction of Philip McCann and studying all about brass bands with Sandy Smith. Sara has also played (often at short notice) for a number of bands in and around Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire (YBS Concert Brass, RJB Brass [Harworth], even the late Rhodian Brass and Carlton Main Frickley Colliery at one memorable concert most notably).
On returning back to her home town Sara has been back with Stantonbury Brass for the past 10 years and not really playing her trumpet much at all now!
She Joined B&B on their maiden outing to the 'Whit Friday's' and has never really looked back since!
Stantonbury Brass Gretton
Julia started playing the trumpet in 1977, before joining a brass band and switching to cornet. She has played for Lingfield, Oxted and Luton. Julia played Soprano Cornet for the Rushden Windmill Band, where she met Jane and became involved with 'Boobs and Brass'. Julia now plays flugelhorn with the City of Cambridge Band, 3rd trumpet in the Midnight Jazz and Dance Orchestra....and trombone at school
I started playing at the age of 5 with South Midlands Welfare Band.Over the last 35 yrs I've played for Loughborogough Town Band, Ind Coope Brass, Rhodian Brass, Ancient Order Of ForestersCoventry Imperial Band, Newhall Webb Ivory, Burton school of Music, Gresley Colliery, Snibston and Desford and Desford Youth Band, Ammington Brass, Ratby Co-Op, Oddfellows Brass Band and last but not least Boobs and Brass. I am currently in the process of joining JaguarI have won many solo competitions over the years . My biggest solo win was at Milton Keynes where I won the solo prize for playing Hailstorm on cornet as I played cornet for 33 years.For the last 2 and a half years I have been on solo horn but have now returned to cornet. Both of my brothers Martin and Brian have inspired my playing over the yearsJaguar (Coventry)Band
(Read Anne's letter from America HERE)
Anne is a New York City-based medical illustrator and musician. While her primary instrument is F horn, with friend Amy’s help she moved to tenor, playing locally with both Imperial and Atlantic Brass bands. However, a 2nd cornet sub experience during the 2009 Whit Friday weekend with Boobs and Brass was too much fun, projecting her into previously unexplored upper register (sans backbeats) and into a new position with Princeton Brass
Princeton Brass USA
I started playing when I was 9 years old with Thrapston Town band and while playing for them I joined Youth Brass 2000 where I started my contesting, tours and big concerts and then decided that I wanted to find an area contesting band to play for. I went and joined Rushden Windmill and played there for a while and then ended up at Raunds where I played till I went to university in September 09.
Started aged about 9 in percussion with Sandye Silver Band (Bedfordshire) quickly moved to playing tenor horn. Then moved to Rushden Temperance (as it was then!) aged about 14 (met Jane, Alan, Sue and Maggie there!) on 1st horn. Also played solo horn with London & Home Counties Youth Band.
Trips 'home' to the Isle of Man involved playing with Douglas Town Band and the Manx Youth Band.
Joined WRAC and had to give up banding in 1974. Played with Winsford Band (Cheshire) on 1st horn in early 80's. Another break of over 20 years and then re-joined Rushden Windmill Band in 2005 on horn and more recently cornet! Currently having a break due to family/work commitments but still blowing with Boobs!
Since the age of 9 I began to play the trumpet. After two years of trumpet playing I soon switched to cornet and joined the Northamptonshire County training youth brass band and Moulton 77 band. After spending a few years with the training band I finally moved on to the Youth Brass Band were I sat solo cornet for 4 years. The time spent within the Youth Brass Band meant that I was able to play at the Royal Albert hall for the schools proms, travel on two tours to Poland and Hungry and win the best youth brass band in England. Soon my time was up for the youth brass band and I turned my attention to teaching others to play. I then left Moulton 77 after 9 years and moved to running Liberty, an American youth marching band which was set up in October 2008. Our first year was very successful and we won numerous trophies and we secured a place within the finals back in the summer and finished fourth. My first concert with the ‘Boobies’ was back in 2007 and have enjoyed playing with such a great band. I am currently playing solo cornet at Raunds Temperance
Raunds Temperance
Liberty Drum Corps
I first started playing bugle in the local GB/BB band at 11 yrs (wanted to play a drum!!) . Then started on trumpet at Spencer Middle School. Played in Northampton County Youth Concert Band & Northampton District Girls Brigade Band (a marching band playing military trumpet, where in 1983 I won the National Girls Brigades Individual Trumpeter Award for England & Wales). Didn't start playing in any Brass Bands until I joined Earls Barton Silver Band in the late 1980's/early 90's, then started helping other bands out. Played trumpet in the Northampton Concert Band for about 10 years, as well as playing in Moulton 77 alternating between Repiano, Flugel, Principal Cornet in 2003, Repiano, Flugel, Repiano.I am very proud to have been one of the original players of Boobs & Brass.Moulton 77
Our principal cornet player & founder member!Rushden Windmill
Sue first joined Rushden Temperance (then Windmill) Band when she was 12 years old - Jane Nichols was also in the band then. Sue was in the Army between 1979 and 1986. When she left the Army, she moved back to Rushden. However, she didn't play again until 1996 when she was asked to play for Rushden Town, where she played both cornet and flugelhorn. Sue had some 'serious' dental work done, including having her jaw wired - which meant stopping 'blowing' for a wee while! However, she very successfully switched to playing the 'timps' for the 'Windmill' band - before swapping back to cornet again. Since 2008, Sue has gone back to play for Rushden Town.
Rushden Town
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