Dale
Hitchen
Eb Bass
Started playing brass at about 9 years old. I played a
Bugle in Emanuel Church Lads Brigade Chadderton. When I
started secondary school a friend talked me into going to
the Brass band with him. I was given a EEb tuba but after a
month of lugging the thing around, on and of buses (Mum
& Dad don't drive) changed to cornet.
When at Dobcross Band one of the tuba players had a stroke
2 weeks before a contest, I offered to go on tuba, been
there ever since. Should have stayed on Tuba at school (I
was a rubbish cornet player).
Bands played for 1977 ~ 2001
Newton Heath Boys; Failsworth; Dobcross; Delph; Boarshurst;
Moston & Beswick; Eccles; Trafford; British Aerospace;
Poynton; Yorkshire CoOp; Cobden & Chadwick; United
North West CoOp Rochdale; Marple & Yorkshire Imperials
(the Imps)
After a 6 year break due to illness, now back playing and
really enjoying playing music at a high standard again. As
well as Tuba I play and teach Bass guitar, 6 string guitar
& rock band skills
Favorite Test Piece: Resurgam &
Journey into Freedom
Non test piece favorites: Anything with a
thought out bass part (not just 2 notes per bar)
Jimmy Tew
Eb Bass
Started playing Eb Bass at the age of 11 with Heywood Old
Band, who in 1961 reached the National Finals 4th Section.
The final was won by Poynton Brass (as the band was then
known). Went on to Walkden Band under the direction of
Ernie Vint.
Joined Wingates Temperance Band in 1970. The band winning
two North West Area contests, the National in 1971 and the
British Open in 1975.
In 1977 joined The Rochdale Band under the direction of
Norman Ashcroft, the well known principal cornet player
with the Fairey Band.
Had a 13-year lay-off. Returned to banding with Burnley
Alliance. For 10 years was a member of Blackburn and Darwen
Band.
Looking forward to playing with a great team and a super
MD. Jimmy joined the band in October 2006.
Favourite Test Pieces: Pageantry and
Journey Into Freedom.
Graham Keen
Bb Bass
At the age of 8 Graham learnt to the play the tenor horn at
Warren Wood Primary School being taught by Mike Fredricks
and Peter Christian. He then joined the Poynton Youth band
where the move from tenor horn to Bb Bass was made. It was
while Graham was at Poynton Youth, when he was first asked
to join the VBS Poynton band.
In the summer of 2002 Graham gained entry into the National
Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, completing 9 courses
with the band, whilst playing under many of the top
conductor's such as Elgar Howarth, Howard Snell &
Bramwell Tovey. After 2 years at the VBS Poynton band he
left to join the Bollington band where he spent around a
year before moving back to the VBS Poynton band. After
spending another Year and a half with the band Graham was
on the move again, this time to the BT (Stockport Brass)
band where he spent a very joyful and successful 2 years,
when he left in September 2007.
After having a nine month sabbatical from banding he was
successfully coerced into returning to the band for a third
time in July 2008.
Picture to follow
Gary
Beswick
Bb Bass
Born in Gorton Manchester, played Bb Bass with Hough School
Band, Wilmslow, from age 11 to 17, also played for a short
time at Gorton and Openshaw Brass Band, under conductor
Billy Allen. Gave up banding alltogether in 1972.
Many years later after migrating to Australia in
1995, I had an urge to get back into it again so at
the ripe old age of 40 I joined Challenge Brass Band in
Wanneroo, Perth, Western Australia. After two years with
them I was invited to join the Western Australian
Champions, Midland Brick Brass. After ten years and
ten successful defences of our W.A. title, including a
second placing for our own choice in the nationals.
Family circumstances in the U.K. saw me and my wife moving
back to Macclesfield for the forseeable future, therefore
giving me the opportunity to play in the U.K. again and I
feel happy to be asked to join VBS Poynton.
Gary joined the band in July 2008.ow
