Personnel
Musical Director Nigel Taken
Nigel studied trumpet at the Coventry School of Music, and later the London College of Music under trumpet professor Dennis Egan. Before moving to London, Nigel's banding experience began with the City of Coventry Band as their flugel soloist at the age of 15, playing regularly with Harry Mortimer's 'Men of Brass' and his 'All Star Brass'.

 

Nigel works as a music teacher and is Head of Brass at Goffs School in Hertfordshire. He is in great demand as a band trainer and conductor and has achieved success at the highest level. He has worked with many bands in a professional capacity, and is currently the Music Director of the Aveley and Newham Band.
Soprano Cornet
 Andrew Hornsby
Andrew has been playing the cornet since the age of 6. He started with the Tilbury Learners Band where he got involved in competitions and solo contests. He then moved on to Thurrock Spectrum Brass and continued to improve and played principal cornet in the junior band and then solo cornet in the senior band. He entered Thurrock Young Musician of the Year and won in 2002 and after leaving Spectrum, he played principal cornet for Essex Brass under conductor Steve Drury.
After a year, Andrew left to join Aveley Junior Band under Phil Lawrence, where he took the principal chair once again and also played for Tilbury Senior Band. During his time at Tilbury, he played in contests including the London & Southern Counties 1st and 2nd section area contests and the Crawley entertainment contest. He gained his grade 8 at 15 and then auditioned for Aveley & Newham senior band. Andrew has now played at the French Open and British Open.
He has also played trumpet for various other bands including sitting principal trumpet for the Essex Young People Orchestra, Essex Youth Orchestra, Essex Youth Jazz Orchestra and the Essex Symphonic Wind Orchestra. He has played for The Bromley Concert Band as a guest soloist, the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and the Ron Montgomery Big Band.
Solo Cornet Bob Osborne
Bob Osborne started playing the cornet aged 5, having lessons with Eddie Williams at St. Dennis Band in Cornwall. He played at the finals at the Royal Albert Hall 7 times with the band and was possibly being the youngest person to do so at the age of 10. As their principal cornet, he won the National Youth Band Finals on two occasions with the St Dennis youth band.
Bob studied trumpet at the Royal Academy of Music with Bill Overton and James Watson and played with the City of London Brass under Geoffrey Brand and London Collegiate Brass under Edward Gregson. Bob had a 20-year career as a freelance trumpet player, mostly with the Saddlers Wells Royal Ballet Orchestra, working with players such as Maurice Murphy, Malcolm Smith, Bill Houghton, John Wilbraham, Nigel Gomm and Anne McAneny.
For the past 10 years he has taught brass in school and has played as 2nd man down and principal cornet at Aveley & Newham since 1999. 2007 will be his 8th appearance at the Finals with the Aveley & Newham Band.
Solo Cornet
 David Thomas
David Thomas started playing at the age of 5 in the Salvation Army in Stotfold, Bedfordshire. He continued playing with the Salvation Army until the age of 29 and was principal cornet for nearly 15 years and was also deputy bandmaster for several years.
David then joined Clacton-On-Sea, where he played under his Uncle Bob Howard. After being in the band for 3 months David transferred onto soprano cornet and played in this position for almost six years. He won the soloist prize at the Crawley Entertainment Contest before moving onto principal cornet with Clacton for a further 6 years.
David then joined Aveley & Newham Band where he has enjoyed his most successful time in banding to date.
Solo Cornet
 Charlie Buchanan                                                                    
Profile Not Yet Available
Back Row Cornet Rolf Jones
Rolf Jones was born in a small village in South Wales called Pontarddulais. It had and still has a very musical tradition with a famous male voice choir, a mixed voice choir and a brass band. Rolf joined the band at 8 years of age and played the flugel horn for about 7 years before switching to the cornet. He continued with the band until he left to study pharmacy at Bath University.
After leaving Bath, Rolf moved to Swindon to take up a position with Boots Chemists and spent the next 7 years managing branches in Wiltshire. Throughout this period he played with the British Rail Band (now re-named Pegasus) and had a great time musically and socially.
After leaving Swindon, Rolf's pharmacy career took him to Essex and it was there that he was approached to join the then Aveley Band, where he has played for the last 20 years.
The highlights of his musical career are too numerous to list but the pinnacle of these must include 7th position at the National Finals in 2000 playing Peter Graham's - Harrison's Dream and last year's Grand Shield win in Blackpool playing Whitsun Wakes by Michael Ball.
Back Row Cornet Rhys Cave
Rhys started playing the cornet at the age of 5, but was attending band events much earlier in life- in the pushchair next to his Mum. After a spell on solo cornet at Tilbury band Rhys joined Thundersley on the front row- becoming the youngest player in the band, and a featured soloist at the age of 11 and attended the national championships in Harrogate. At the age of 13 he passed his Grade 8 with distinction. He followed his sister’s footsteps (herself a former Aveley player) and now studies at the Junior Guildhall School. Rhys is a frequent winner of solo competitions (Thurrock arts council and Tilbury youth band), SCABA Under 14 Soloist of the Year 2008, winner of the Thurrock Brass Musician of the Year 2008, and the Basildon Young Musician of the Year 2008. He joined Aveley and Newham Band in July 2008, and becomes the 3rd member of his family to have played with the band his Mum Sue was a former flugel soloist, and sister Lauren a former cornet player. Rhys has an 'interesting' sense of humour, and is well known for his practical jokes. When he's not playing on his PSP or Wii Rhys takes part in many sports, and plays for Thurrock Rugby Club. He also likes skiving off school to attend brass band competitions.
Back Row Cornet Sarah Beale
Profile Not Yet Available
Back Row Cornet Sue Cave

Sue was introduced to the strange world of banding in 1976, joining Castle Point band on cornet. She became a founder member of Thundersley Brass on flugel horn and principal cornet, and won numerous prizes at the London & Southern Counties solo competitions.

At 17 she accepted an invitation to join the Aveley band on flugel, and stayed with the band until 1987. After spells at Thurrock Spectrum Brass and Tilbury, Sue returned to Thundersley, along with son Rhys on solo cornet and, eventually, daughter Lauren on principal cornet. Sue enjoyed much success with the band and was regularly featured as flugel soloist on concert programmes. Having taken time out of banding for a few months Sue was snapped up to play repiano cornet and flugel for the Clacton Co-operative band in 2008. She joined Aveley & Newham in January 2009, returning to her banding roots.

Sue loves banding, particularly now that she can enjoy it with her family. She has 4 children, two of whom have already played for Aveley & Newham. In her spare time she works in I.T! She loves gardening, and trying to force the cornet on two young toddlers!
Flugel Horn David Lewis
David started playing at the age of 9 with The Tilbury Youth Band, progressing to The Tilbury Band on 3rd Cornet by the age of 11. After periods on soprano and flugel David was given the seat of principal cornet at the age of 15 and remained there for 10 years, winning many soloist awards. After a short break from banding he became Resident Conductor of the Aveley Band in 1992 and Aveley & Newham Band in 1993.
David left the Aveley & Newham Band in 1995 to conduct Northfleet Brass Band, who he took from 2nd Section to Championship Section, before returning to Aveley & Newham Band on Cornet in 1997.
Promotion to Principal Cornet came in 1998, a position held until 2002 and David has been the flugel player for the band since 2005. His most memorable moments include playing in RAH, Barbican, National Theatre, QEH and in France, Germany, Holland, Luxembourg and Belgium.
Solo Eb Horn David Howell

David started playing the cornet at the age of 6, at the Salvation Army in Colchester. After stints on baritone, flugel horn, and soprano cornet he followed in his fathers footsteps and became an accomplished tenor horn player. David studied at the London College of Music and Royal College of Music, gaining a BMus degree, ARCM, ALCM, and LTCL diplomas in tenor horn performance, and further LTCL diplomas in piano accompaniment and choral conducting.

David has played with several top SA bands, and was principal horn and assistant musical director of the renowned East London Youth Band for ten years- enjoying successful tours of Canada, USA, Spain, Portugal, Scandinavia, and Germany. During this time he was also invited to play for the Household Troops Band and Egon Virtuosi Brass. In 2003 David was invited to join Becontree Brass, and also depped for various bands, including Whitburn, GUS, Alliance Brass, and Redbridge Brass. Following a successful period as solo horn of Redbridge Brass David put down his horn for a while, concentrating on his role as resident conductor of Thundersley Brass, where his ‘claim to fame’ was stepping in at the last minute to play both timpani and second trombone simultaneously at the National Brass Band Championships lower section finals in Harrogate. Playing solo horn for the band David won the Southern Counties Amateur Band Association 1993 Centenary Cup, in honour of being ‘Best Instrumentalist 2008’.

Having played for Clacton Co-operative band since May, David was thrilled to be asked to join the Aveley & Newham Brass Band in December 2008, and is looking forward to many years of success.
2nd Eb Horn
 Lizzie White                                                                             
Profile Not Yet Available
1st Baritone
 David Maddocks                                                                      
Profile Not Yet Available
2nd Baritone Tracy Brown
Tracy started playing the tenor horn at Leighton Buzzard Salvation Army at 7 years old and completed all her grades whilst at school before getting her music degree at Kingston University. After a year of tenor horn lessons with Phil Randall at Sun Life she changed to the euphonium and had lessons from Cliff Jones at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall. She then joined the Army and played euphonium with Royal Artillery for 4 years. During this time she completed her masters degree in music performance and related studies at Goldsmiths University. After leaving the Army Tracy played with various bands before joining Aveley & Newham Band on 2nd baritone.
2nd Trombone Ben Jones
Ben started playing the Trombone at the age of 9. At 10, he was awarded a place in the National Children's Orchestra of Great Britain where he was a member for 4 years and as Principal for 2.
It was during this time that Ben started learning with Alan Hutt and continued his studies at Wells Cathedral School of Music in Somerset where he was awarded a full scholarship.
After A-levels, Ben spent the next 4 years studying at the Royal Academy of Music in London, under tuition from Dudley Bright, Denis Wick, Ian Bousfield and James Watson. He has performed in ensembles in many prestigious venues including St David's Hall, The Royal Albert Hall and the Barbican to name just a few.
Ben joined the Aveley and Newham band in autumn 2006 and hopes to enjoy many successful years with the band.
Bass Trombone
Andrew Austin
Andy began his musical career at the age of 9 when he was handed a trombone and told to blow it straight. Not realising the musical implications of this he has since devoted himself to becoming laser sharp and extremely loud.
Formative years were spent in various areas of the Midlands playing for successful soul outfits such as ‘Back 2 Miami’, along with Jazz Bands and the Midland Youth Orchestra. After a period of inebriation at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama he discovered the Brass Band movement and the challenge of really blowing.
Relocation to London was forced, and after a period of time with the YMSO he wandered into the Aveley & Newham Band room after being given the wrong directions by a fellow trombonist.
Andy is a keen arranger of all styles of music, featuring in many of the bands concert and entertainment contest successes. Most recently he arranged material for the talented vocalist Lucy Rhodes. He currently holds the position of ‘Director of Music and Performing Arts’ at the New Line Learning Federation of Schools in Maidstone, Kent.
Solo Euphonium Derick Kane

Derick began playing the Euphonium as a member of the Salvation Army Junior Band in Hamilton, Scotland. Having joined the ISB in 1976, he has now played with the band for over 30 years on Principal Euphonium, playing under three different bandmasters and also serving as the band's deputy bandmaster for a number of years.

In 1991 during a centenary concert held by the ISB at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon, Derick was presented with the prestigious award of Euphonium Player of the Year by the British Bandsman.

As a soloist, Derick tours extensively within the UK and abroad (including Australia, USA and Canada as well as many parts of Europe) and is in great demand as a guest soloist throughout the world. He has had many compositions written for him including Lyric Variations, The Better World, Spirit of Life, There will be a God, Canaan's Land and Compelled by Love.

Derick has also featured as a soloist on many Salvation Army recordings including the 'Derick Kane Solo Album' produced in 2005.

Derick Joined the Aveley & Newham band as Principal Euphonium prior to the British Open Championships in 2007 and has since conduted the band on occasions in the absence of Musical Director, Nigel Taken. This prompted the band to offer him the position of Assistant Musical Director in 2009, an offer that was gratefully accepted.
Euphonium Hannah Morton
Hannah joined the City of Oxford beginner's band at the age of 5 playing tenor horn. She then joined the training band and moved on to the Baritone and then finally the Euphonium.
Hannah achieved distinction at grade 8 at the age of 14 and was a member of the National Youth Wind Orchestra at 16. She graduated from the Royal Holloway University of London in 1997 with a degree in Music.
Hannah stayed with the City of Oxford Band for 20 years, playing Solo Euphonium for 8 years in the Senior Band, qualifying for the National Finals on Montage and then coming close with 3 third places at the area in a row.
Hannah joined the Aveley & Newham Band in 2003 on 2nd Euphonium.
EEb Bass Ron Rees Davies                                                                     
Profile Not Yet Available
BBb Bass Gwyn Press
Gwyn has played with most of the Welsh bands, his own being Tredegar but has also assisted Black Dyke on numerous occasions. He is currently a full time musician in the Royal Artillery Band and loves his brass banding, classical music, good food, good beer, and fast cars.
BBb Bass Barrie Pantrey
Profile Not Yet Available
BBb Bass Derek Morris
Following Derek's father's long connections with the Aveley Band from 1921 to 1986, Derek was encouraged to join Aveley Junior Band in 1962 studying with Cyril Mead, Jack Jones and Harold Green. He then entered the Senior Band making his debut at the Friends Meeting House Euston at the Daily Herald Contest in 1964 on Eb bass later moving onto BBb bass around 1967.
Derek has completed concert tours to Belgium, Holland, Germany and France and broadcasts include Listen to the Band, Friday Night is Music Night, Among Your Souvenirs and Sam on Sunday. He has appeared in many television shows, television advertisements and documentaries and appeared at the National Theatre in the stage production of Brassed Off. He has also been involved in many band recordings and appeared at the National Finals at the Albert Hall and Westminster Central Hall 7 or 8 times.
Derek has served on the band committee for over 30 years and is currently band Chairman, a post held for 25 years with 2 exceptions when negotiating the band merge in 1993 with the Newham Band. He is a band trustee and Vice President and was made a life member of the Aveley & Newham Band 1996 serving the Band with an unbroken service for some 42 years.
Percussion Jon Kitchen
Jon took up the cello at the age of 7 and went on to study at the Royal College of Music in London. Whilst there he won five of the College's cello prizes, including the Leo Stern Award, the RCM's senior 'cello award. He has subsequently freelanced professionally as a cellist throughout the UK and abroad.
Having always been interested in percussion he joined Aveley & Newham Band after giving Andy Austin a lift to the band room one night. The Aveley & Newham Band played on his debut cello CD "Camaraderie" and Jonathan is particularly proud of the collaboration on the Elgar 'Cello Concerto.
Other highlights with the band include the 7th place in 2000 at the National finals as well as marching up the main street in Amboise in summer 2006 without falling over.
Jon's dad is an avid brass band fan and to this day is made up having seen Aveley & Newham Band at the National Finals with his son in it's ranks. His Mum is also a convert, having attended the British Open in 2006 and listening to 7 bands on the trot. This was mainly due to a foot injury that made it difficult to leave, but she enjoyed it nonetheless...
Percussion Nigel Brinklow
Nigel was born in Aberdeen and started playing the side drum in a pipe band at the age of 8. At 14 he joined the percussion section of Bon-Accord Silver Band, who had recently been placed as runners-up in the Scottish Championships on Images. His debut on clash cymbals in Waverly Overture made no impression and the band came last.
Nigel left Aberdeen in 1997 to see the bright lights and gold pavements of London. He joined the Aveley & Newham Band where he was able to reverse his debut fortunes by winning the area championships on Montage. He has enjoyed many highlights in his playing career including playing at a packed Pittodrie Stadium (Aberdeen FC), playing in Brassed Off at the National Theatre, the Usher Hall Edinburgh with NYBBS, the Edinburgh Festival with BSB, my first Albert Hall outing playing Between the Moon & Mexico, the reception of the audience at the gala concert of the French Open, winning the Grand Shield, and trying to play while very drunk every Christmas in the Winter Gardens, Aberdeen.
Percussion Richard Scarff
Richard started playing percussion at the age of 9. He played for Gravesham Youth Music Orchestra and Wind Band. In addition to playing percussion he also studied the piano, violin and guitar. He joined Kent Youth Wind Orchestra aged 16 and studied at Trinity College of Music from 1992 to 1995. Richard played for the Royal Army Medical Corps Band from 1997 to 2005 and joined Aveley & Newham band in 1996. He is currently teaching percussion and classroom music for Kent Music School and Kent County Council as well as freelancing for orchestras in and around Kent.