One of the loveliest ‘jobs’ the scaba team get to do is visiting our members bands and helping them to celebrate years of commitment and service given by their longest-serving members, and this Christmas we were delighted to honour three amazing banders.
Chairperson Andrew Wilson joined Staines Brass at their Christmas concert to present two 50-year certificates.
Nigel Campbell started playing the euphonium age 9, in his village band in the Scottish Borders. His first contesting band was Broxburn.
Over the years Nigel has played for many bands including St Boswells, the Scottish Youth Band, Regent, Milton Keynes, Staines and Fjell Brass. Highlights for Nigel include the Regent Midwest Tour, and playing at the Siddis Brass Entertainment contest in Norway.
Nigel joined Staines Brass for a second time in in 2015, this time on baritone. As well as contributing to the band through his playing, Nigel has also held various committee positions over the years, and throughout his time in banding Nigel has been a dedicated musician and a good friend to many.
New Zealander John Gillespie learned to play a brass instrument aged 10 years old and played with the Mount Roskill Band for 20 years before emigrating to the UK in 1987, setting up a business in Camberley called Heathlands Plantcare.
John played briefly with St Albans Band, Alder Valley Brass and Friary Guildford before settling with Hillingdon Band where a number of fellow Kiwis also played under their well-known conductor/composer Philip Sparke. John then played with Egham and Sandhurst Bands and Alder Valley again before retunring to Staines in 2022 after a gap of 30 years. The band was delighted to welcome him back as both a bandsman and a true friend.
Although mainly an EEb Bass player John also plays tenor horn with Cove Brass, and on a monthly basis he plays with the Guildford SA Fellowship Band.
Our secretary Alex Sears visited Edenbridge Town Band at the their last rehearsal in December and enjoyed some Christmas tunes before presenting Margaret Pocock with a certificate in recognition and thanks for an incredible 70 years’ service.
Tenor horn player Margaret began banding in 1953 with the Dormansland village band in Surrey. By 1964 she was married to David and joined him at Edenbridge Town Band where they have been ever since, inspiring and supporting generations of brass banders including their daughters Julie and Lucy, and son Darren, who all play in the band with them.
Nigel, John and Margaret, thank you all for your many years of great service to brass bands.