Hebden Bridge Band

Back row cornets

Colleen Smail - Soprano cornet

Started her playing days on Bb cornet with Hammonds Juniors, later to become Hammonds Sauce Band 'B'. Moved up the ranks and became principal cornet. In 1977 the band became 4th section National Champions. A change in name to the Hawley Band saw Colleen move onto Soprano and she progressed with the band to the Championship Section.
She has played with Girls of Brass and The Young Ambassadors and has been with Hebden Bridge since 2003 with husband Les (cornet). They live in Shipley with daughter Lucy and son James.

Diane Gardner - Repiano cornet

Di started playing cornet at age 16 with South Midlands Welfare Band (now Leics Co-op Snibston Charnwood Brass!). Moved to Carlton Silver Band, which became Nottingham City Transport Band. Married Steve (solo horn) in May 1989 and lived in Melton Mowbray. Moved to Yorkshire in Dec 1989 and joined Hebden Bridge in 1991. Now lives in Halifax with Steve and their sons Jack and Sam.

Peter Mathison - 2nd cornet

Born in Birmingham, Peter was introduced to music at a very early age as his father Frank was a young professional musician playing bass trom with the CBSO and then the LSO. When Peter was 8 he began playing trumpet and when he was 11, won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he attended every Saturday morning for 5 years studying trumpet, piano, music theory and history. At 16 he had little interest in classical music, preferring Herp Alpert and the Tijuana brass. As the RAM didn’t really approve there didn’t seem to be any musical avenue open that appealed to him, and so, despite his father’s hopes, a career in music just didn’t happen. He ended up in catering, became a chef and more or less gave up the trumpet for 20 years.
During this time, his family used to come up to Hebden Bridge at Christmas time and Peter often used to join in with a semi pro brass group( from Opera North) playing Christmas carols at the Lane Ends pub in Oldtown.
He used to get the trumpet out of its case, do a little practice, do the job and put it away again for a year. One year however, he decided to practice, then sought and found Hebden Bridge Band and joined and has been playing ever since, saying it’s the best thing he ever did. Peter joined Friendly band of Sowerby Bridge in 1995 and became their principal cornet for 4 years but decided he wasn’t cut out to be in the “hot seat” and preferred the idea of a less pressured seat in a better band and therefore returned to HBB.

Cerian Horne - 2nd cornet

Cerian is the blonde of the back row and makes a welcome return to Hebden Bridge, after a short break. Cerian is an ex principal cornet of Hebden Bridge Junior Band and has played in bands since early childhood. Cerian is famous in Hebden Bridge Band for her characteristic sneeze!!!!!!

Jamie Simmonds - 3rd cornet

Jamie grew up in Paignton in Devon and moved to Hebden Bridge when he was fourteen. He started to play the cornet in 1994 when he decided he was getting bored whilst waiting for his son Joe to have a cornet lesson, Joe subsequently gave up but Jamie has enjoyed playing ever since mainly on the back row, but for a brief spell some years ago where he was drafted in to the front row team to assist with the counting of bars rests (our front row aren't very bright!).

Emma Shaw - 3rd cornet

Jack Gardner - 3rd cornet

Jack is the fourth member of the Gardner family to join Hebden Bridge Band. He is also a talented pianist, currently studying towards his Grade 7. He is a member of Clifton and Lightcliffe Junior Band and the North Halifax Grammar School Concert Band and Orchestra. Jack has many other interests including playing hockey (as Goalkeeper - mad fool!) for Halifax Hockey Club, both in the U16 and senior teams. He is also sound and lighting technician for Actors Workshop in Halifax and also at his school. He is a member of Lightcliffe scouts and Brighouse Explorers, and is training to be a Young Leader. He has recently completed his Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award.