City of Hull Band

Luke started playing cornet in 2008 and since then he has played with the East Riding Youth Brss Band, taking on the Principal cornet seat in the senior section in 2015.   In 2018 Luke stepped down from the Principal seat of the youth band to give another player the opportunity to play the role.  Luke still helps out with the youth band.

He joined Driffield Silver Band in January 2013 on 3rd cornet, and was promoted to lead the 2nd cornets in February 2014.  His progress continued in July 2016 when he stepped up to take on the Repiano Cornet chair.  It was decided that Luke had improved so much that he be invited to sit on as Acting Principal Cornet.  In March 2018 Luke stepped down as Principal Cornet and is now assistant principal.

In addition, Luke played Principal at Bridlington Excelsior Band up to June 2017 and joined Graham Walkers Hunmanby Silver Band, playing 2nd man on the front row until November 2019.  In March 2018 Luke played at his first contest at the Gala Theatre in Durham for Barton Community Band where they won their section and went on to enjoy playing at the finals in Cheltenham.

In April 2019 Luke was delighted to be invited to play with the City of Hull Band on 2nd Cornet.  Since then he has enjoyed playing at the Spring Brass Band Festival in Blackpool, and at the Royal Albert Hall.  Now it's a new year and Luke is looking forward to this years North of England Competition in Durham, playing Solo Cornet (4th person).

Having served several top class bands as Principal Cornet including Grimethorpe Colliery and Brighouse & Rastrick, Alan has now retired from being a professional musician but continues to adjudicate at all levels and has resumed his hobby by joining City of Hull Band on Soprano Cornet. He was, of course, MD of the band between 2010-15. 

During his career as a freelance musician he made worldwide appearances as an adjudicator, soloist and conductor having performed in Australia several times, extensively in Europe and the USA as well as the length and breadth of Great Britain featuring in many festivals and gala concerts including the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts at the Royal Albert Hall. Over the years Alan has been involved in the promotion and coaching of many young people and youth bands including the National Youth Bands of Switzerland and Great Britain and in 2006 he was the Guest Conductor of the European Youth Band at its course in Belfast. For over 10 years he was the Professional Musical Adviser to the all-conquering Camborne Youth Band who won 10 National Youth Band titles. Alan was an ABRSM examiner for 25 years and during his career visited many educational establishments undertaking recitals, masterclasses and external examining. 

He has adjudicated brass band contests at all levels at home and abroad, including the National Championships of Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Sweden, Belgium, the US Open and European Championships and has adjudicated the National Finals at the Royal Albert Hall several times. Alan has recorded seven solo albums and pioneered a teaching video that has proven very successful. He also regularly features on light music recordings for the BBC with various ensembles including big bands and orchestras. There are many compositions and arrangements published for brass band by Alan that have also proven very popular and all are still available, some of the titles becoming best sellers, such as Buster Strikes Back and Sugar Blues. In addition to this Alan won the Fodens Richardson award for new arrangements with his stunning version of Over the Rainbow. 

A lifelong fan of Middlesbrough Football Club Alan enjoys his retirement by playing golf and spending time with his grandson.

Kirsty was born in Hull in 1972 and started playing the cornet at the age of nine. She progressed through the City’s youth bands and orchestras culminating in winning brass player of the year in 1991. In 1989, she joined The City of Hull Band as a founding member on 2nd cornet. Kirsty played in the band’s first ever contest in the fourth section Yorkshire Areas, which they won, earning a trip to London for the National Finals. Kirsty briefly left the band in 1991 when she moved to Coventry to study Mathematics at Warwick University where she joined Coventry CPA Band. She returned to the band in 1993 to help out with contests and concerts and returned full time in 1994 after finishing her degree. In 1995, Kirsty married the band’s Eb Bass player, David Fox, at Howden Minster, with music during the service provided by the band. She moved onto Repiano cornet in the summer of 2000, whilst expecting her first child. Kirsty qualified and worked as a chartered accountant until 2002 when she took a career break to look after Liam and the twins, Joshua and Emily. On returning to work when the children reached school age Kirsty left accounting behind and retrained as a primary school teacher which keeps her fully occupied.  

Bridget started playing cornet at the age of 9 in Adelaide, Australia having lessons with Ken Rushworth (father of Billy), from 1970.  The family returned to England in 1974 and Bridget joined Telford Band on Repiano Cornet, moving onto Principal Cornet over the years. Bridget studied at Birmingham School of Music, leaving with an ABSM in teaching and performing and a GBSM. She gained her PGCE in 1984, before starting teaching in an infant school in Birmingham. In the same year Bridget joined the now defunct Jaguar Cars (City of Coventry) Band on Repiano Cornet, moving onto Flugelhorn after a couple of years. It was during this time that she had the good fortune to meet and marry the band’s Bass Trombonist, Ian. Apart from this massive stroke of luck, it was also a very successful period for the band with them gaining 6th place at the 1988 British Open and 3rd place 4 weeks later at the National Finals in the Royal Albert Hall.

In 1990, Bridget and Ian emigrated to New Zealand, along with 6 other British players to join the Auckland based Television New Zealand Brass, now known as Waitakere City Brass. 

Within 5 months of arriving the band were crowned New Zealand National Champions. Bridget initially played Repiano Cornet, but later moved onto Flugelhorn when Ian became the MD. Bridget was crowned the Champion Flugelhorn player of New Zealand during this period. 

Bridget and Ian returned to the UK in 1994 and Bridget joined the Kibworth Band after Ian was appointed MD. Bridget later played flugelhorn for GUS Band before Ian’s employment took them to Sheffield in 2000. Bridget immediately started to play Repiano Cornet for Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band but later moved to Skelmanthorpe Band on flugelhorn. Bridget returned to Frickley in 2003 on flugelhorn and was a member of the Grand Shield winning band that year. In 2005, Bridget decided to take a break from banding.

In 2012, Bridget and Ian took early retirement and moved to Hunmanby. One year later, Bridget  had the urge to play again so joined the local non-contesting band Hunmanby Silver, conducted by the legendary Graham Walker, where she played Principal Cornet. 

Bridget joined the City of Hull Band in 2016 and looks forward to a long and enjoyable time playing with the band.

Born into a Salvation Army family Tim has always been around brass bands.  He started playing when his dad brought a Flugelhorn back from the Salvation Army band room to repair.  Initially he was under the tutelage of former ISB bandsman and Assistant Territorial Director of Music for the Salvation Army Andrew Blythe then later with local teacher Steve Askew. Tim was asked to join Cleethorpes Town Band in 2014 and quickly worked his way up the cornet section enjoying contest success qualifying for the 2017 3rd section national finals. He left the band later on that year to join Market Rasen Town Band playing in a variety of roles within the cornet section. Whilst with Market Rasen he enjoyed further contest success when the band won the Midland area contest and placed 2nd at the National Finals in 2018. He stayed with the band until he took a place at the University of Hull  where he has been studying music performance under Doctor Elaine King and cornet tutelage of Niall McEwen. Tim has recently been playing in the Championship Section with Harrogate Band.

Tim has joined the band in 2021 just in time for his first trip to the Royal Albert Hall with the band for the National Finals, talk about trial by fire. He hopes to have a successful time with the band whilst he further continues his studies in music. 

Away from band Tim also enjoys playing Ice Hockey and in 2019 was selected to be part of the Great Britain Universities Ice Hockey squad. 

Born on the Wirral in 2000, Peter started playing piano at the age of 4 and cornet at the age of 8. He studied under Scott Lloyd and Paul Thomas whilst attending Wirral Grammar School for Boys. He played in the school brass band, concert band, big band and a variety of smaller ensembles as well as freelance playing locally. He toured extensively in Europe with school and appeared at Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club. 

He joined Wirral Schools Brass Band in 2011 under the baton of Alan Milnes, progressing through back row and repiano and becoming principal cornet in 2016. During this time, he also acted as a teacher at Royal Buckley Town band for the junior band and helped out at Rhyl Silver band.  In 2016 he joined Foden’s Youth band and has played repiano and front row cornet. Leaving school with his ARSM on cornet and grade 8 piano in 2019, Peter was delighted to gain a place studying Geology at the university of Hull and also a seat in City of Hull Band.

Andrea's brass band journey began after hearing her dad play in Foss Dyke band – she started playing the cornet at the age of 7 when she went along to the junior section of Newark Town Band. After a move to East Yorkshire she continued to play the cornet in local brass bands and also played trumpet in the East Riding Youth Orchestra and the Humberside County Youth Brass Ensemble. Whilst at university in Dundee Andrea became president of the music society and in addition to brass bands she also played trumpet in the university jazz band. Moving back to the East Riding Andrea joined the Cottingham Band on repiano cornet and was part of the band when it made its successful rise through the sections to Championship. 

After a break from playing following the birth of her son, Andrea started playing again joining the East Yorkshire Motor Services band in 2006. 

Andrea works as a teacher for the East Riding Schools' Music Service. 

Julia grew up in the East Riding of Yorkshire and started having trumpet lessons at South Hunsley School.  Whilst at school she joined the East Riding Youth Orchestra, The Hull Philharmonic, and Hessle Sinfonia.  She joined the Hessle Royal British Legion Brass Band on solo cornet in 1976 playing with the band until leaving the area to study Industrial Economics, at Nottingham University in 1980. 

Julia returned to the area in 1989 and started playing again with Cleethorpes Brass Band, joining the East Yorkshire Motor Services Band on Solo Cornet in 1993 under the musical direction of Dr Robert Childs. Julia has played at every area contest and at all 14 of the Bands appearances at the National Brass Band Championship Finals at the Royal Albert Hall.  Following a brief venture onto the Tenor Horn, she returned to sit on the back row  - a blessing for all concerned!!

 Julia is the Band’s contest secretary and has been a committee member for many years.

Kathy began to play the Tenor Horn at the age of 11, before changing to the Trumpet a couple of years later. Throughout her teens, Kathy played the Cornet, and the Trumpet in the Hull Schools Music Service bands and orchestras, before joining the Hessle Royal British Legion Band, where she entered the world of contesting. In 1989, Kathy left Hessle to became a founder member of East Yorkshire Brass, where she played Repiano Cornet, before moving on to ‘bumper up’. The band was successful, and gained promotion through the sections from 4th to Championship section. Kathy took a few years out and returned to the band (which was now called Aunt Bessie’s East Yorkshire Brass) in 1999. She then moved to East Yorkshire Motor Services on the front row in 2000, and has enjoyed several appearances at the National Brass Band Finals in the Royal Albert Hall since then. In December 2004, the opportunity arose to play the Flugel Horn, a challenge that she is enjoying immensely. Kathy worked as a BTEC course leader, and beauty therapy lecturer at Hull College until 2018 when she decided on a career change and now works as a Doctors receptionist in a busy Hull Practice. In 2001, she married Tony Newiss who plays cornet in the band. When not at work or band Kathy can usually be found cycling around East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

Wendy was born in Scotland and began playing the tenor horn around the age of 11.  Having moved to Hull she progressed through the City’s youth bands and was awarded the Brass Player of the year in 1990.  Wendy was one of the founder members of the City of Hull Band, taking up the 1st horn seat. Wendy played at the band’s first ever contest in the fourth section Yorkshire Areas, which they won, earning a trip to the National finals in London.

Wendy moved away to Bretton Hall University in 1991 to complete a degree in teaching, but continued to help the band out whenever possible.  She joined her nearest band - Barnsley Building Society Band in 1992 where she held the position of solo horn for a year.

In 1993, Wendy joined the Wallace Arnold (Rothwell) band on 1st horn, but soon found herself sitting in the solo horn position.  Wendy moved back to Hull in 1995 after securing a teaching position in the city and re-joined the EYMS band.  In 1999, Wendy was asked to rejoin her old band, Wallace Arnold, which was soon to merge with the Yorkshire Imperial Metals Band.  Wendy played at many top contests including the British Open, Brass in Concert and the All England Masters. Wendy married fellow bandsman, Russ, in 2002 and finally retired from Yorkshire Imps in 2003.  Twelve years on, Wendy came out of retirement and found herself back at EYMS, initially filling the band’s vacant second horn position before moving on to first horn in December 2015 and solo horn in September 2018.  She works part time as a peripatetic brass teacher.

Garry studied music at both Leeds and Birmingham, becoming an Associate of Birmingham School of Music in both performance (French Horn) and teaching. As a freelance professional in London, Garry played with, amongst others, the Doyle Carte ballet company. 

As well as brass banding as a 'hobby', Garry holds down several teaching posts including Head of Brass at the Hull Collegiate School, Tranby Croft. 

Besides playing the Tenor Horn with the City of Hull Band, Garry also finds time to play French Horn for orchestras and theatre companies, and conduct Barton Town Community  Band. Garry was also the Musical Director of the Barton Town Band, and under his stewardship Barton have gone from the 4th to the 1st Section in consecutive years, with promotion to the Championship Section following in January 2011 and then created the Barton Community Band which is now competing in the second section and continues to support youth banding whenever and wherever possible. 

Away from brass instruments, Garry is also a talented keyboard player, who has performed professionally in various pit orchestras, including a production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Alan`s first steps in banding were taken at the age of 11 being taught by Ellerby Cox who was Bandmaster of his local band, The City of Lincoln Band. Beginning on trumpet he soon moved to Tenor Horn where he has settled ever since. At the age of 14 he was invited to take the Solo horn seat in the City Band. It was here Alan got his first experiences of contesting in the areas and other local contests. He enjoyed being a featured soloist with the band playing solos such as, If and Silver Threads Amongst the Gold at the many local events and concerts.

Three years later he was auditioned to join the Championship section band, Ransome Hoffman and Pollard Works Band enjoying nearly 10 years with them playing at the Nationals, British Open, Brass in Concert and many other national contests. During this time the band played concerts across the country and appeared on BBC radio and television. The band also toured Holland and Germany several times.

Alan left to take up the position of Solo Horn with the Foss Dyke Band and over the course of the following 6 years helped them to progress from the 4th section to the Championship section winning solo prizes at local entertainment contests.

It was during this time that Alan had private Music theory lessons with Dr Philip Marshall master of the Choristers and Organist at Lincoln Cathedral.Alan then took what he describes as “an annoying break from banding due to silly things like work commitments and getting married”.

After a 7 year break, he returned to Banding with Foss Dyke for a while before accepting the Position of Solo horn with Barton Town Band. With Barton he enjoyed considerable contest success culminating with an appearance at the National Brass band finals at the Royal Albert Hall. A very proud event for him because this was the first time any band from Lincolnshire had appeared at the finals in the Championship Section since his first teachers’ band had played there when Ellerby Cox was a boy back in 1922.    Barton played many concerts locally and this allowed Alan to extend the range of solos he played including Over the Rainbow, Lark in the Clear Air, Good bye to Love, Iona, and The Debutant. Alan then joined the EYMS Band playing at the National finals and the Grand Shield before again annoyingly work commitments and getting married (a second time) lead to him taking a break from banding.

Alan is very pleased to be back at The City of Hull Band and is looking forward to further success on the concert stage and in the contest field '' with this formidable combination.'' He has no further plans of returning to work or getting married again!

Melanie was born in Hampshire and started playing the euphonium at the age of 7, joining the Hampshire County Youth Bands. At the age of 14, her family moved to the North East of England where she continued her playing with Yarm & District Brass Band. At the age of 18, Melanie moved away to study - firstly studying for her music degree at Birmingham Conservatoire where she was taught by Steven Mead, and then Birmingham University to undertake her teacher training.

When Melanie started her teaching career as a primary school teacher, she moved to North Lincolnshire and this was when she first joined EYMS on Solo Euphonium in January 1998. She enjoyed 7 years on Solo Euphonium, but left in 2004 when she became pregnant with her daughter. Melanie returned to the band in 2011 on 2nd euphonium till 2013 and then as the band’s Solo Baritone player in 2016. When the opportunity arose in 2018 to become the band’s Solo Euphonium again, Mel excitedly took up the position once again.

Melanie is currently enjoying her time playing Solo Euphonium and has won the Maurice Metcalf Memorial Trophy for ‘Best Euphonium Player’ at the North of England Regional Championships for the last two consecutive years - 2019 and 2020 – of which she is very proud.

Sam`s musical education began on piano at the age of 6 and included a very brief spell on flute. Not long after, Sam was sent a battered old cornet from the Barnetby Silver Band and his obsession with brass bands began joining Barnetby Silver Band. After several years on cornet it was decided that a move on to euphonium would benefit both Barnetby Band and Sam. Taking to it very quickly Sam has played euphonium ever since and after spells at Barrow Concert Band and Frickley South Elmsall Band, in 2010 the opportunity to join the ‘East Yorkshire Motor Services Band’ was too good to pass up. Sam is extremely proud to have performed with the band at some amazing venues including the Royal Albert Hall, the Sage Gateshead and Perth Concert Hall. He was also delighted to receive in his first year, the bands "Most Improved Player" Award, from the bands then Musical Director Alan Morrison. Sam has been on the band committee for several years and is the current Vice Chair of the band.

Outside of the band Sam works as an electrician and can often be seen at Blundell Park cheering on the Mighty Mariners, Grimsby Town FC.

Steve started his brass banding playing the cornet at the age of 12 and soon joined his local band - Grimsby Band. At 16, he moved on to 1st Baritone at Grimsby  who by that time were in the Championship section. In 1991 Steve joined City of Hull Brass Band, then conducted by Bob Childs. His most memorable moment in banding was when City of Hull (then known as EYMS) won the North of England Area championships in 1998 (by three points!) playing Montage, with his dad sat next to him on 2nd euph and Melanie on Solo euph whom he later married.

Steve also played at Barton Town Band, who similarly to City of Hull moved up through the sections to championship section (with Richard Evans at the helm for contests).

After taking a 6 year break from banding to indulge in long distance triathlon, Steve is now back enjoying playing at City of Hull again. In his spare time, Steve now enjoys walking the dog with his family and spending time with his grandchildren.

Born in Lincolnshire, David began playing the euphonium aged 8. David soon began playing with Barnetby Junior Band, quickly progressing on to the senior band. As a teenager David also played in Barrow Brass Band and in the North Lincolnshire Youth Concert Band, Orchestra and Swing Band. At the age of 17 David took up playing the trombone alongside the euphonium to broaden his musical options, enabling him to play in big bands and orchestras.

David joined the Army at the age of 18 as a trombonist. After a year studying at the Royal School of Army Music and becoming an associate of Trinity School of Music in performance, he joined The Band of The Life Guards, which later amalgamated with The Blues and Royals to become The Band of The Household Cavalry. During David’s twelve year Army career he performed as principal trombone with the band at many ceremonial events in London and Windsor, including Trooping of the Colour, State Visits, a Royal Wedding, and at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee events, as well as performing at military tattoos, concerts and embassies all around the world.

Having recently moved back to Lincolnshire, David is looking forward to enjoying playing as a hobby again and to playing sitting on a chair rather than on horseback or marching.

Carl was born in Grimsby, moving to Barnetby at a young age. At the age of seven, Carl was invited to a brass recruitment session at the Barnetby Silver Band, where because of his taller physique (specifically longer arms) was presented with a trombone. Under the guidance of Colin Britcliffe he soon progressed from the junior band to the senior band. Membership of other bands followed - Scotter, Albright & Wilson Brigg - as well as joining the Lindsey Youth Orchestra.

Aged 15, Carl joined the Primo Windows (Grimsby) Band on 2nd Trombone and had many local successes here. After three years, Carl was asked to audition for the highly respected Ransome Hoffman Pollard Band based in Newark. After a successful audition, Carl began his championship section banding under the guidance of many named conductors such as David James, Trevor Walmsley DFC , Roy Newsome and in Carl's opinion the greatest of them all, Major Peter Parkes. Several major concerts, tours and contest appearances followed, including The Masters, Belle Vue, Grand Shield and several appearances at the National Finals. After an enjoyable fourteen years at RHP, Carl's work commitments in the motor industry meant that he had to look for another band, joining the Lincoln based Foss Dyke Band. Again, this was a successful period of banding, rising through the sections to attain championship status. 

Several years later Carl was invited to join the East Yorkshire Motor Services Band for the first time, with several further appearances at the Royal Albert Hall, before work commitments once again forced Carl to move bands, playing for several Lincolnshire based bands and EYMS again, before joining the Barton Town Band, recently promoted to the championship section, conducted by Garry Oglesby and the flamboyant Richard Evans. 

Carl rejoined the East Yorkshire Motor Services Band in July 2013, followed in 2014 by his friend Stuart Clark, thus resuming a 40 year-old partnership of playing in the same trombone section dating back to when they were both thirteen year-olds.

Stuart started to learn the Bass trombone at the age of 13 while at Winterton Comprehensive School. (It was the only instrument available at the time!!) His early playing years were spent performing in both the Lincolnshire and Scunthorpe Schools Orchestras under guidance of the late Rex Rands. His musical development continued in the Brass Band arena playing for Barton Town Band (twice), Hatfield Colliery Band, Ransomes , Fossdyke and more recently East Yorkshire Motor Services now known as the City of Hull  Band.

In that time he has played under a variety of Musical Directors  including: Steven Shimwell, Major Peter Parkes, Trevor Walmsley,  Roy Newsome, Richard Evans, Walter Richie, and Harry Mortimer( yes he is that old!!) His favourite test piece is Contest Music.

Stuart has 2 claims to fame, for nearly 40 years he has played Bass Trombone alongside Carl Robinson on 2nd Trombone (is this some sort of record?) and in 2010 Stuart won the best trombone prize in the first section at The North of England Regional Contest playing “A Moorside Suite”. Stuart`s brother Phil is also a trombone player with the LSO (Leeds Symphony Orchestra).

David was born in Arnold, Nottingham and started playing the Eb Bass at the age of 11. He joined his first band, Calverton Colliery Welfare Band, in 1977, where he played until he left to study at Leeds University. Whilst in Leeds, David played with the Kippax and Allerton Bywater Colliery Bands. After graduating with a degree in Mining Engineering, he returned to Nottingham, where he rejoined Calverton Band before moving to The Ransome Band. Whilst playing Solo Eb Bass there, he made his first of many appearances in the national finals at The Royal Albert Hall. A career move in 1990, meant David relocated to East Yorkshire where he joined the City of Hull Band on Solo Eb Bass. David is married to Kirsty, the band’s Repiano cornet player.

Paul is from Hull and a product of the Hull Schools Music Service, starting on baritone at the age of 12. He played in the services brass, wind and jazz bands and also the orchestra. He was also playing trombone and euphonium. He soon joined the Hessle British Legion Band and it was here he entered the world of brass band contesting. In 1984 he accepted an offer to join Brodsworth Colliery band in Doncaster. They were the closest Championship section band to Hull and Paul describes every rehearsal as being like a master class. Working with conductors like David James, Geoff Whitham and Major Peter Parkes. After 4 years of travelling to Doncaster for rehearsals with local cornet player Dixon Laing, an idea voiced in the car took shape to try and get a good local band in Hull so that there was somewhere for brass students from Hull schools to play after they left school. After discussions with Bob Childs who was living and teaching locally at the time, City of Hull band was born. Paul then had some private lessons with Bob at his house.

 Paul has played with several local bands but starting a new business in 1991 saw Paul take a gap in his playing umtil 2000 when he resumed having been asked to join East Yorkshire Beass. In 2001 he moved to EYMS band competing at the Royal Albert Hall 4 years consecutively on both baritone and horn before leaving in 2006 when he joined Barton Town Band on Eb Bass,  leading the bass section from 2006-2012. During this time, the band progressed from the 4th section to the Championship, culminating with an appearance at the National finals in 2012. Paul enjoyed working with the charismatic Dick Evans as professional conductor and City of Hull 1st horn player Garry Oglesby as resident conductor. In 2019 Paul was delighted to be asked to return to City of Hull Band on Bb bass and even happier when he was invited to move on to Eb bass on resumption of rehearsals in June 2021. He is looking forward to helping the band progress with its ambitions to compete at the very highest level in banding.

Hayden originates from Stoke-on-Trent and it was at the age of 8 that he first started learning to play the euphonium. By the age of 11 he had progressed on to the BBb bass and joined the Longton & Fenton Brass Band. Whilst there he took  the opportunity to travel to Norway several times, to play alongside another Youth band in Kvernerland.

A year later, he auditioned for the Staffordshire County Youth Brass Band and whilst playing for this successful band, had the opportunity in 1985 to play at the Royal Albert Hall at the Youth Proms Concert. 

In 2003 he moved to Scunthorpe and quickly joined the Barnetby Silver Band where he took on the role of band sergeant. After several years, Hayden wanted to fulfil his ambition to contest and moved to Barton Town Band. In the summer of 2014 he was invited to play for Hatfield Band after their area success and subsequent entry into the National Finals at Cheltenham. He remained with the band for almost two years before being given the opportunity to deputise for the East Yorkshire Motor Services Band over the Christmas Concert period in 2015.

At the end of 2015 Hayden was delighted to accept an invitation to join EYMS on a permanent basis. Within a year of joining the band he was happy to take on the role of Band Sergeant.  Hayden works as a multi-skilled engineer for Jackson's Bakery in Hull and is married to Cheryl.

Sam returns to playing after an 11 year break. 

He started playing with the SW16 Youth Band in London,  aged 7, having lessons with his dad. After the family relocated to York, he joined the Rowntrees Junior Band under the direction of Ted Pratt and started having lessons through the music service with Graham Walker (former principal cornet of Yorkshire Imps) and later Janus Wadsworth. He moved to the Senior band, alongside his dad and started a move down the band from 3rd cornet to Euphonium and finally Eb bass when Duncan Beckley took over as conductor of the band. 

After a brief spell playing for South Milford, Sam went off to university in London and helped the York Railway Institute band out during the summer before joining the band full time when he returned to York in 1995. A year of travelling in 1998 saw him leave the band (although he did carry on playing in both Australia and New Zealand). Returning to York in 1999, Sam rejoined the Nestle Rowntree band on Bb bass, alongside his dad. Their first contest performance together saw the band come second in the North of England Area finals and win Best Bass Section. After 18 months with the band, Sam was invited to join Yorkshire Imps. A spell with the Ransome Band followed before Sam moved to Hull and joined EYMS in 2005.

Two spells with the band followed (broken by the birth of his daughter) before Sam took the decision to take a step back from banding in 2010 to concentrate on his career. He has helped a number of bands out since then, including reuniting with his dad in the Bb bass section of Beverley Band on their Area Finals appearance in 2016 (they first time they shared a contest stage in 16 years).

Professionally, Sam is a qualified Management Accountant and works as Financial Controller for a Housing Association in Hull.

John was an avid music listener and suddenly got the urge to play the drums around 1991, an urge which saw him purchase a second hand drum kit and begin “beating the skins”. He was soon going along to his local brass band which was Tingley Band. He progressed to Drighlington Junior Band then into the senior band later moving to Wakefield Metropolitan Band. In 2009 he joined the East Yorkshire Motor Services Band which became City of Hull Band in 2019. John also plays in several rock bands.

Hull has been my home since birth. I started learning piano at 7 and then percussion too when I was 9. I progressed through various youth orchestras and bands with the Hull Music Service, achieving my Grade 8 Percussion and travelling to and performing in Berlin, France, Italy, Raleigh (USA), Walt Disney World (USA) and Barcelona with the senior ensembles until I was 19.

Fast forward 17 years to 2016 and I was asked if I would be interested in playing in a band again. I said no more than once, but eventually agreed to come and help out, with the promise of the pub afterwards and the National Finals to tempt me!  After starting rehearsals in June, my first three performances were a concert in July, Dr Martin's contest in September and the National Finals in October. Talk about being thrown in at the deep end! 

My intentions of 'just helping out' continued until the following May, when I finally realised I wasn't going anywhere. I was loving playing and being part of the band! I was awarded the Most Improved Player of the Year award in December 2017 and was thrilled when we came first in the areas in 2019.