I won my first medal at 7 years of age, with the Rossington Colliery Band quartet under the baton of Johnnie Jones.  

Then my family moved to Dinnington Colliery Band where I played Cornet, after a few years I moved to Thurcroft Colliery Band again still on Cornet.

From there I moved on to the then famous Cresswell Colliery Band on 2nd Cornet, the principal Cornet at that time was the Famous Mervyn Griffiths, who was as Famous in the North of England as Derek Garside.