Alan Lawton MBE
Musical Director

Alan began his Brass Band career playing with local bands in the Saddleworth area. He then served for three years in Malaya with the XI Hussars prior to becoming a member of the Fairey Aviation Works Band in 1956. For the next twenty years Alan was part of Fairey's famous front row cornet section, a period during which the band enjoyed many contest successes. The most notable being the British Open Championship 'hat trick' in 1961/62/63. He was also a member of the "Kings of Brass" and Harry Mortimer's "All Star" and Men O' Brass" combinations.

Alan was the band manager at Fairey's for ten years and in 1984 was appointed as the bands Resident Conductor, a position he relinquished in 1991. Since then he has been guest conductor with many of the country's top bands including Black Dyke, Fodens, Leyland, Ransomes, YBS and Wingates. He also coached Faireys, Leyland and Ransomes to success at the British Open. English Masters and National Championships and holds the record as the most successful conductor at the Whit Friday March Contest, leading Fairey's to 10 firsts 2 seconds and 1 third out of 13 contests entered in 1987.

He has also been Musical Director of the Vernon Building Society Poynton Band and the B.T. Band, and enjoyed many contest successes with these bands.

Alan is a member of the National Association of Brass Band Adjudicators, and has adjudicated at many Solo and Band competitions throughout Great Britain, as well as presiding at the Dutch National Championships.

Alan was awarded the MBE in 2006 for services to the Brass Band Movement.