Phil Spencer

Eb Bass

I started learning the Eb bass in 1974 whilst still at school in Hastings aged 13.
After a few months my music teacher asked if I’d like to join Hastings Youth Band which was the youth band for Sussex Brass (senior band). By the time I was 15 I was performing in over 20 different brass bands, wind bands, orchestra’s, brass ensembles and jazz bands.
East Sussex County Youth Symphonic Wind Band, Sussex Brass and Hastings Youth Wind Band and a short spell in the National Youth Band being the main bands I performed at the time.
I left school and after meeting my wife and moving to Wakefield I joined Hammond Sauce Works Band in 1981 however I stopped playing music when my 1st child was born and didn’t play again until about 6 years ago when I saw an ad in a local post office where I lived at the time in Silsden who we’re looking for social players.

On a ‘spur of the moment’ decision I contacted the band and was invited along to play. There musical director at the time was Mr Andrew Dunn, who believe it or not I played with in the National Youth at the same time as myself (pure coincidence) 🤪
Silsden Town Band were a pure social band who were made up mainly of ex Salvation Army players and pensioners who enjoyed a natter. The band were enormous fun but never really took themselves very seriously. The band itself was mainly for socialising, drinking T and having a natter as it’s members were mainly local church goers. I had a great time and enjoyed playing with them tremendously 😁

In 2015 I left Silsden Town Band as I was looking to step things up a little and was asked to join Dobcross Brass Band. They had no Bass player at the time and indeed for the entirety of my stay with the band I remained the only bass player relying on ‘deps’ when necessary. The musical Director during my time there was Tim Sidwell and together with this band we played a few more concerts as well as a few contests which Silsden didn’t do. Whilst there we won the Whit Friday Saddleworth Cup (best Saddleworth Village Band).

In 2017 I left Dobcross Brass Band and was asked to join Crofton Silver Band which at the time was an easy decision as Dobcross were in transition and also because I’d moved to Normanton so I didn’t have far to go to rehearsal 🤪
With Crofton having just won promotion to 2nd section under there musical director Mr. Dean Jones I became there Eb bass player and under his guidance over the 2.5 years with the band we went on to win Leicester (2nd section), Yorkshire Regional (2nd section) and Bolsover as well as being placed in the top 3 at the same competitions at 2nd/1st section levels eventually leading to being promoted to the Championship in 2020.

I left Crofton and after an 11 month break from music was asked to help out with Lofthouse at the Yorkshire National Regionals 2020 which I was glad to do, and the rest as they say is ongoing.

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