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?
I was born in Sheffield in 1935. I lived there for 40 years before moving to Derbyshire for a few years. I now live in Skelmanthorpe and I have lived here since 1984.
Summarise your musical career to date in no more than twenty words!
I started with the piano, then the viola which I played in a couple of orchestras, the guitar and the clarinet.
When did you join Shepley Band – and more importantly, why on earth did you join?!
I joined the band three years ago after leaving the Barnsley Town Band because of various operations. I got back into playing through the band at Shelley College where I was told what an excellent band there is at Shepley.
What do you enjoy about being part of Shepley Band? We assume you enjoy the band of course!
Playing with the band is the highlight of my week which I never miss unless it is absolutely unavoidable. I am grateful to my husband Roy who takes me everywhere I am playing as the saxophone is too heavy for me to carry after operations on my knee and hip.
What has been your favourite moment with Shepley Band?
I enjoyed playing with the band at Lake Garda in 2010; playing in the evening by the lake and also listening to Judith speaking in italian is an experience I shall never forget.
What’s your favourite piece of music of all time?
I think that it may be Les Miserables.
Who’s your favourite composer? Those still living don’t count by the way – it’s all noise with them!
It depends whether I am playing or listening and also which instrument I am playing. I like Mozart, Bach and of course Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Apart from all the hours you put in every day practising (obviously) what else do you get up to in the real world?
I enjoy learning languages, especially Italian which I read from the newspapers and the internet. I keep in touch with friends in Germany, Italy and Denmark and my son in the USA. I enjoy travelling and meeting people from different countries.
Fantasy Dinner Table – imagine you’re having dinner – who would you want on either side of you – and why?
Probably Judith as I would only have to listen.
Oh, and what’s your favourite food – after Sheila’s World Famous Ginger Biscuits?
I love Chinese and Indian foods and also they both have a wide choice of vegetarian dishes. I regularly cook Italian dishes at home.
Your private plane is sitting on the runway at Shepley Aerodrome. Where would you like to go today – and why?
I would like to fly with Roy to meet up with an Italian Family who live in Manfredonia, on the east coast of Italy and then to fly on with them to the Tremiti Islands where I spent many happy days about thirty years ago.
You’re a very modest individual, shy and retiring (like everyone in Shepley Band) – but what’s been your greatest achievement to date?
I think that it was probably learning Urdu so that I could speak to the 5 year old Pakistani children in my class and to read to them just for the first few weeks until they could speak English.
We seem to be living in a celebrity culture today – so if you could be a celebrity who would you be and why?
I am sure that I would never be a celebrity and I would not want to be so. I would hate to be in the limelight.
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)?
I enjoy documentaries, gardening programmes, travel, geographical and wildlife.
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.That in spite of my age I may continue to be a member of the band
for a few more years.
2. Good Health
3. I can still get the saxophone to band practise.
Summarise your musical career to date in no more than twenty words!
I started with the piano, then the viola which I played in a couple of orchestras, the guitar and the clarinet.
When did you join Shepley Band – and more importantly, why on earth did you join?!
I joined the band three years ago after leaving the Barnsley Town Band because of various operations. I got back into playing through the band at Shelley College where I was told what an excellent band there is at Shepley.
What do you enjoy about being part of Shepley Band? We assume you enjoy the band of course!
Playing with the band is the highlight of my week which I never miss unless it is absolutely unavoidable. I am grateful to my husband Roy who takes me everywhere I am playing as the saxophone is too heavy for me to carry after operations on my knee and hip.
What has been your favourite moment with Shepley Band?
I enjoyed playing with the band at Lake Garda in 2010; playing in the evening by the lake and also listening to Judith speaking in italian is an experience I shall never forget.
What’s your favourite piece of music of all time?
I think that it may be Les Miserables.
Who’s your favourite composer? Those still living don’t count by the way – it’s all noise with them!
It depends whether I am playing or listening and also which instrument I am playing. I like Mozart, Bach and of course Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Apart from all the hours you put in every day practising (obviously) what else do you get up to in the real world?
I enjoy learning languages, especially Italian which I read from the newspapers and the internet. I keep in touch with friends in Germany, Italy and Denmark and my son in the USA. I enjoy travelling and meeting people from different countries.
Fantasy Dinner Table – imagine you’re having dinner – who would you want on either side of you – and why?
Probably Judith as I would only have to listen.
Oh, and what’s your favourite food – after Sheila’s World Famous Ginger Biscuits?
I love Chinese and Indian foods and also they both have a wide choice of vegetarian dishes. I regularly cook Italian dishes at home.
Your private plane is sitting on the runway at Shepley Aerodrome. Where would you like to go today – and why?
I would like to fly with Roy to meet up with an Italian Family who live in Manfredonia, on the east coast of Italy and then to fly on with them to the Tremiti Islands where I spent many happy days about thirty years ago.
You’re a very modest individual, shy and retiring (like everyone in Shepley Band) – but what’s been your greatest achievement to date?
I think that it was probably learning Urdu so that I could speak to the 5 year old Pakistani children in my class and to read to them just for the first few weeks until they could speak English.
We seem to be living in a celebrity culture today – so if you could be a celebrity who would you be and why?
I am sure that I would never be a celebrity and I would not want to be so. I would hate to be in the limelight.
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)?
I enjoy documentaries, gardening programmes, travel, geographical and wildlife.
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.That in spite of my age I may continue to be a member of the band
for a few more years.
2. Good Health
3. I can still get the saxophone to band practise.
Who are you and what instrument do you play?
My name is Margaret Taylor and I play the tenor saxophone in the band.
My name is Margaret Taylor and I play the tenor saxophone in the band.
The Shepley Band Interview
