Andy was born in Crofton, Wakefield in the swinging sixties and began playing tenor horn aged 10 when the local primary school acquired half a dozen brass instruments. His uncle had enjoyed many years playing with Nostell Colliery Band and Andy was soon sat on the horn line trying to follow the music.
As a teenager he joined the Wakefield Metropolitan Schools Band – playing at the national finals at the Albert Hall, performing at the Schools Proms and appearing and performing with Peter Skellern on TV. As the band members got older a senior band was formed and Andy played at the inaugural concert on 28th November 1978.
Upon becoming a police officer in 1982 Andy auditioned for the late, great Derek Ashmore and joined the South Yorkshire Police Band (the Band only had two horn players so there was an empty seat and as Derek used to say about many players – “he’ll be useful to the band”) Highlights of time with the band include playing for the Queen and Prince Phillip, the Police National Tattoo, the London Lord Mayors Parade, exchange visits to Germany and the Malta Military Tattoo. When the band were short Andy ‘volunteered’ to help out on timps and spent a great few years shaking tambourines, banging drums and trying to get to grips with the art of shed building !!!
After leaving banding altogether to concentrate on family commitments he was tempted back to playing after retiring from the police by a pal at Thurlstone Brass Band. He joined Lofthouse in 2016 and is chuffed to have been voted Players Player Of The Year in 2017 and 2018.
Position in band : 1st Tenor Horn
Instrument : Geneva Prestige
Occupation : Farm Tour Guide
Favourite food : Cheesecake (and tons of other stuff !!!!)
Favourite drink : Tea
Favourite non brass band : Supertramp (Breakfast In America album in particular)
Most Embarrassing Banding Moment : missing the huge bass drum at the Area!