June Wright

I have always loved music, but knew nothing about Brass Bands until I married Maurice. He was then Musical Director of Haslemere Town Band and played with Liss Band. He was out of the house three nights a week and went to engagements most weekends. I realised I was not seeing much of him and begged him to teach me how to play a brass instrument. His comment, 'I don't want you in the Band. You'll be too disruptive', was like a red rag to a bull. I picked up the only spare instrument I could find, a 'peashooter' trombone, snitched a 'Tune A Day' and taught myself to play. Fortunately I was a pianist and understood how to read music. I figured that in piano playing it is often necessary to play several notes at a time, whereas brass players only have to play one. Dead easy, surely! I have lived to eat these words many times since. Years later I play percussion, still loving 'Banding' and possibly, still 'disrupting'. When I first started to play a brass instrument I began to listen to Maurice's L.Ps. and tapes. The programmes played by the Black Dyke Mills Band at that time contained many arrangements by Gordon Langford and examples of his work included arrangements of traditional melodies in pieces like 'West Country Fantasy' and 'Fantasy On British Sea Songs' and classical music like 'Carmen Fantasy' by Bizet and 'Carnival Of The Animals' by Saint Saens. His own original work included 'Sinfonietta For Brass Band' and a 'Rhapsody For Trombone', written for his fellow trombonist Don Lusher. Such delightful music inspired me and I became an instant fan, feeling moved to write to Gordon to tell him so. Since then our friendship has grown, and Gordon agreed to become a Vice-President of the Band. Over the years he and his wife Elaine have shown a great interest in the Band, faithfully attending many 'Sounding Brass' concerts, and travelling quite a distance from their home in Devon, especially to be with us.