Alex Smith

Eb Bass

Playing History: I have played for Blackley Band for the whole of my playing career, I started in 1996 after being introduced to brass banding by a music teacher at Crosslee Primary School. Although I do ‘dep’ with plenty of other North West bands, and have even been known to travel to Wales to help out.
Favourite Piece? As a bass player as long as its more interesting than ‘umm-chucks’ then I’m happy.
Worst Piece? Another difficult one. I will have to have a good think and come back to this.
Proudest banding moment? Playing on stage at The Royal Albert Hall at the National Finals in 2000 is a hard moment to beat, and I think it will always rank highly.
Most embarrassing moment? I have made a fool out of myself so many times that it’s hard to choose one, I am proud to say that the chances are this happened in a dressing room, rehearsal or social setting and not on stage. I think Pontin’s 2007 will live long in my memory as a very embarrassing memory, let’s just say you can still see the scar – and probably the mark on the door.
Anything to add? Well I am currently band secretary and hope that the band is going forward under my supervision and with the efforts I am putting in to promote the band for local events and not so local opportunities. I am happy to see the band has seen a surge in players and we are currently having very full rehearsals, which make it more enjoyable and means real progress can be seen.

Band

Karl Stott

Karl Stott

Musical Director
Jake Gordon

Jake Gordon

Soprano Cornet
Laurie Wood

Laurie Wood

Principal Cornet
Paul Whitehead

Paul Whitehead

Solo Cornet
Tom Chipchase

Tom Chipchase

Solo Cornet
Vacancy

Vacancy

Solo Cornet
Roger Albiston

Roger Albiston

Repiano Cornet
Caitlin Wineyard

Caitlin Wineyard

2nd Cornet
Vacancy

Vacancy

2nd Cornet
Igor Nikitin

Igor Nikitin

3rd Cornet
Pat Barr

Pat Barr

3rd Cornet
Charlotte Ankers

Charlotte Ankers

Flugel Horn
Nicola Stewardson

Nicola Stewardson

First Horn
Matthew Taylor

Matthew Taylor

Euphonium
Mark Tattersall

Mark Tattersall

1st Baritone
John Waterhouse

John Waterhouse

Trombone
Bill Fern

Bill Fern

2nd Trombone
Karen McDowell

Karen McDowell

Bass Trombone
Alex Smith

Alex Smith

Eb Bass
James Moran

James Moran

Eb Bass
Roger Green

Roger Green

Eb Bass
Neil Ashcroft

Neil Ashcroft

Bb Bass