Where were you born (you don’t have to share the date with us if you don’t want to!) and where do you live now?
Born in Crewe, Cheshire when life was in black and white, but grew up in Liverpool and got my first job in Bootle. Moved to Addingham, Wharfedale in 1979 and Shepley in 1983. Wouldn’t live anywhere else now!
Summarise your musical career to date in no more than twenty words!
Trombone at age 11, school orchestra, Merseyside Youth Orchestra (same band as Steve Langford and Sir Simon Rattle – often conducted by Sir Charles Groves). Represented Great Britain at a music festival in Switzerland in 1972. Then did nothing until I joined Shepley. Simon’s musical career went the other way – but I’m sure he mentions two famous trombone players he once knew when he’s rehearsing the Berlin Philharmonic.
And as you’ll know from rehearsal – I can’t count – that’s more than twenty.
When did you join Shepley Band – and more importantly, why on earth did you join?!
2002 – my old school friend Steve Langford persuaded me it would be a good use of a recent Christmas present from my family who encouraged me to take up the trombone again. Thanks Steve – it’s been life changing.
What do you enjoy about being part of Shepley Band? We assume you enjoy the band of course!
It’s great fun – great people – huge age range and backgrounds but everyone gets on so well. You can take it at whatever pace you want – if you want to challenge yourself musically and improve then the opportunities are yours to take – or you can just sit there and enjoy doing what you know you can do well.
What has been your favourite moment with Shepley Band?
Thursday 28th August 2008, Vacklesang Concert, Sweden. The band played to a packed hall and the audience loved it. There were only twenty-one players but the band excelled. Judith’s plan to take Shepley Band out of its comfort zone and making us believe we could actually do it was inspirational of her. We did it and I’ll never forget the experience.
What’s your favourite piece of music of all time?
Very difficult – there’s so much – for differing reasons. Music has always been a trigger for actions and memories over the years.
Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture – the first piece of classical music I’d ever heard – on a school trip in 1965 to hear the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in the Philharmonic Hall aged 11. I’d never been in such a big building or heard anything like it – with a real cannon! I decided then that I wanted to be a musician.
You Only Live Twice – John Barry’s Bond theme sung by Nancy Sinatra – first time I’d ever gone to the cinema. Great music, great film and a glamour that was in such stark contrast to the depression of Liverpool in the 60’s.
Who’s your favourite composer? Those still living don’t count by the way – it’s all noise with them!
Again – too many for different reasons – the two mentioned above obviously -Lennon and McCartney (OK – I know McCartney is still with us!) for the change they brought to popular music.
Apart from all the hours you put in every day practising (obviously) what else do you get up to in the real world?
I currently work for IBM.
Fantasy Dinner Table – imagine you’re having dinner – who would you want on either side of you – and why?
This is fantasy right? On one side Isambard Kingdom Brunel – the greatest Victorian and the worlds greatest railway engineer ever. I’d like to understand how he had the vision to bring about the industrialised world and ask him for his plan to rebuild the country today.
On the other side Morecambe & Wise (OK that’s two people and I’m showing my age). We all need a really good laugh and their comedy was simply brilliant.
Oh, and what’s your favourite food – after Sheila’s World Famous Ginger Biscuits?
Another tough one. Anything Jan cooks is great – I enjoy good Indian food but essentially if someone else has cooked it then it’s great food!
Your private plane is sitting on the runway at Shepley Aerodrome. Where would you like to go today – and why?
Iceland. Alison (The Ear-Defenders) Tymon introduced us to this beautiful country for the first time in 2005. Jan and I have made three visits now. The landscape brings home the true meaning of the word ‘awesome’ and it’s one of the few places on earth where everyday you can see that Mother Nature still hasn’t finished building this planet we live on. The Icelandic people are really living on the edge in what is quite an inhospitable country and whilst it seems an alien world miles away from life here it’s only two hours by plane.
You’re a very modest individual, shy and retiring (like everyone in Shepley Band) – but what’s been your greatest achievement to date?
I’d like to think I haven’t had my greatest achievement yet. But marrying Jan, bringing up two great kids and now being a granddad is something I’m proud of; crossing the finishing line of the London Marathon with Abi in 2007 was special, as was running with both Abi and Graham in the Great North Run; Cycling Coast to Coast with Jan and Graham in 2000.
Oh … and getting ‘T’was the Night Before Christmas’ right – Christmas Concert 2009.
We seem to be living in a celebrity culture today – so if you could be a celebrity who would you be and why?
You mean I’m not a celebrity? Get me out of here.
You’ve managed to get the TV remote control all to yourself. If you could have an evening of your favourite telly programmes what would you watch (after you’d finished daily practise of course)?
TV is rubbish really isn’t it? But – Top Gear because it’s as close to being
non-PC these days as it seems you can get in public view; Morecambe & Wise – any Christmas Special from the 1970’s please; any decent travelogue/documentary. But then I’d switch off and listen to the wireless – Sounds Of The Sixties, I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again, The Archers, The Goons, The Navy Lark.
Finally, you found an old oil lamp on your way out of our Christmas Concert. You rubbed it and Jude the Shepley Band Genie appeared and granted you three wishes. What did you wish for?
Born in Crewe, Cheshire when life was in black and white, but grew up in Liverpool and got my first job in Bootle. Moved to Addingham, Wharfedale in 1979 and Shepley in 1983. Wouldn’t live anywhere else now!
Summarise your musical career to date in no more than twenty words!
Trombone at age 11, school orchestra, Merseyside Youth Orchestra (same band as Steve Langford and Sir Simon Rattle – often conducted by Sir Charles Groves). Represented Great Britain at a music festival in Switzerland in 1972. Then did nothing until I joined Shepley. Simon’s musical career went the other way – but I’m sure he mentions two famous trombone players he once knew when he’s rehearsing the Berlin Philharmonic.
And as you’ll know from rehearsal – I can’t count – that’s more than twenty.
When did you join Shepley Band – and more importantly, why on earth did you join?!
2002 – my old school friend Steve Langford persuaded me it would be a good use of a recent Christmas present from my family who encouraged me to take up the trombone again. Thanks Steve – it’s been life changing.
What do you enjoy about being part of Shepley Band? We assume you enjoy the band of course!
It’s great fun – great people – huge age range and backgrounds but everyone gets on so well. You can take it at whatever pace you want – if you want to challenge yourself musically and improve then the opportunities are yours to take – or you can just sit there and enjoy doing what you know you can do well.
What has been your favourite moment with Shepley Band?
Thursday 28th August 2008, Vacklesang Concert, Sweden. The band played to a packed hall and the audience loved it. There were only twenty-
What’s your favourite piece of music of all time?
Very difficult – there’s so much – for differing reasons. Music has always been a trigger for actions and memories over the years.
Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture – the first piece of classical music I’d ever heard – on a school trip in 1965 to hear the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in the Philharmonic Hall aged 11. I’d never been in such a big building or heard anything like it – with a real cannon! I decided then that I wanted to be a musician.
You Only Live Twice – John Barry’s Bond theme sung by Nancy Sinatra – first time I’d ever gone to the cinema. Great music, great film and a glamour that was in such stark contrast to the depression of Liverpool in the 60’s.
Who’s your favourite composer? Those still living don’t count by the way – it’s all noise with them!
Again – too many for different reasons – the two mentioned above obviously -
Apart from all the hours you put in every day practising (obviously) what else do you get up to in the real world?
I currently work for IBM.
Fantasy Dinner Table – imagine you’re having dinner – who would you want on either side of you – and why?
This is fantasy right? On one side Isambard Kingdom Brunel – the greatest Victorian and the worlds greatest railway engineer ever. I’d like to understand how he had the vision to bring about the industrialised world and ask him for his plan to rebuild the country today.
On the other side Morecambe & Wise (OK that’s two people and I’m showing my age). We all need a really good laugh and their comedy was simply brilliant.
Oh, and what’s your favourite food – after Sheila’s World Famous Ginger Biscuits?
Another tough one. Anything Jan cooks is great – I enjoy good Indian food but essentially if someone else has cooked it then it’s great food!
Your private plane is sitting on the runway at Shepley Aerodrome. Where would you like to go today – and why?
Iceland. Alison (The Ear-
You’re a very modest individual, shy and retiring (like everyone in Shepley Band) – but what’s been your greatest achievement to date?
I’d like to think I haven’t had my greatest achievement yet. But marrying Jan, bringing up two great kids and now being a granddad is something I’m proud of; crossing the finishing line of the London Marathon with Abi in 2007 was special, as was running with both Abi and Graham in the Great North Run; Cycling Coast to Coast with Jan and Graham in 2000.
Oh … and getting ‘T’was the Night Before Christmas’ right – Christmas Concert 2009.
We seem to be living in a celebrity culture today – so if you could be a celebrity who would you be and why?
You mean I’m not a celebrity? Get me out of here.
You’ve managed to get the TV remote control all to yourself. If you could have an evening of your favourite telly programmes what would you watch (after you’d finished daily practise of course)?
TV is rubbish really isn’t it? But – Top Gear because it’s as close to being
non-
Finally, you found an old oil lamp on your way out of our Christmas Concert. You rubbed it and Jude the Shepley Band Genie appeared and granted you three wishes. What did you wish for?
1. I wish I wasn’t going deaf (maybe that cannon started it in 1965)
2. I wish I’d joined Shepley Band earlier.
3. I wish I could play the trombone.
2. I wish I’d joined Shepley Band earlier.
3. I wish I could play the trombone.
Who are you and what instrument do you play?
John Roddan – Trombone – and it’s also my privilege to be Chairman of Shepley Band. Married to Jan on the glock.
John Roddan – Trombone – and it’s also my privilege to be Chairman of Shepley Band. Married to Jan on the glock.
The Shepley Band Interview
