January 2020 – Present
Claire’s parents were delighted (?!) when at age eight, she brought home a cornet from school one day. Under the tutelage of Gary and Diane Newborough at Burnage Junior Band, she quickly moved on to flugel, then settled on horn following progression to the senior band at Burnage (BMB). Here she moved through the ranks to Solo Horn, leaving the band around 1994/5 to join Tintwistle Band.
After a break from playing for exams, and a brief hiatus down in London, she moved back North in 2001 and started back on the local NW banding circuit. Playing first with Stockport Silver Band, Claire then took the Solo Horn seat at Marple Band and has enjoyed playing and depping with many local bands since her return.
After being a regular dep at Flixton for a couple of years, she finally made the move to join the band full-time in 2020 and has enjoyed making merry and making music with her new band family ever since.
Adie Smith is our Musical Director.