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 1956 in the north eastern seaside town of Hartlepool where my playground often included the miles of beaches in the area and the docklands of what was in those days a busy port.
Summarise your musical career to date in no more than twenty words!
Grandparents Piano as a child, at about 14, played Flugel horn, after deciding I didn’t like carrying a big drum, for a small church band. Stopped playing brass when I went to college, started again around 2000 when my eldest son decided to learn Cornet. Later, Sandra bought me a Flugel horn for a birthday present & I started my first ever formal music lessons. So have since played, Flugel Cornet & settled (for the moment) on Trumpet with Shepley Band.
Cor, 20 words is far too few!!!!
When did you join Shepley Band – and more importantly, why on earth did you join?!
Around 2002 , John Roddan persuaded me to join Shepley Band. So for the first time in almost 20 years I played Flugel in a band.
What do you enjoy about being part of Shepley Band? We assume you enjoy the band of course!
A great bunch of people, from Grandchild to Grandparent we all just have a great time. When I’m playing music, I just forget about all the niggles of working for a living. Music is good for the soul and keeps the brain on its toes too.
What has been your favourite moment with Shepley Band?
There are so many, I love the carols around the village Christmas tree, the outdoor concerts in the summer and the feeling of being among a fabulous bunch of people – especially when we get it right on the night.
What’s your favourite piece of music of all time?
I enjoy listening to all sorts of music, especially if it has a good tune. My first record purchased was of Holst’s Planet Suite & I still think it is wonderful. Later along came Vivaldi & the New World Symphony which is fabulous. Pink Floyd has featured very highly in my playlist, so has Queen along with numerous classical pieces and even some jazz. I have never been keen on naming one favourite. However, if I have to name one it has to be Rodrigo’s “Concierto de Aranjuez”, 2nd movement especially in its brass format as “Orange Juice” as featured in “Brassed Off” probably due to the Flugel Horn.
Who’s your favourite composer? Those still living don’t count by the way – it’s all noise with them!
There are so many, who can dislike Mozart? I like Pink Floyd so that places Roger Waters high on the list & he’s not even dead yet. Freddie Mercury, unfortunately is dead, contributed so much. I like Shostakovich, Khachaturian, Vivaldi, Holst, Vaughan Williams & John Williams… As I said, I have never been keen on naming favourites.
Apart from all the hours you put in every day practising (obviously) what else do you get up to in the real world?
In the “real” world, I am a chartered engineer, working as Technical Manager for probably the largest Cremator manufacturer in the world. As a career, it certainly makes for some interesting conversations in the pub.
Fantasy Dinner Table – imagine you’re having dinner – who would you want on either side of you – and why?
I can think of nobody better to have around me than my friends, however it is always good to introduce someone new at a dinner party. Perhaps an evening sat between Stephen Hawking & Gene Roddenberry would be interesting, if a little difficult to arrange
Oh, and what’s your favourite food – after Sheila’s World Famous Ginger Biscuits?
Most things meaty, big & spicy. Given the choice of savoury or sweet, I would always go savoury. But, Sheila’s Ginger Biscuits really are so good…
Your private plane is sitting on the runway at Shepley Aerodrome. Where would you like to go today – and why?
In my twenties I lived on a 63ft Schooner, Wild Knight, which belonged to the parents of my friend Andrew Stewart. It was my intention to sail around the world with them, unfortunately in the end the boat did it without me on board. There were only 2 places I really felt I wanted to see on the trip. One we did get to & the other was Bora Bora. I would fly to Bora Bora, but may take in a lot of other places on the way – after all it is my private plane.
Does it have warp drive? I just thought of…
You’re a very modest individual, shy and retiring (like everyone in Shepley Band) – but what’s been your greatest achievement to date?
I could say it was playing in Shepley Band to a huge audience beside Lake Garda in Italy, or in a packed hall in Väckelsång in Sweden. It could be hitting that top C when it really mattered or that 4 bar solo that for once didn’t get fluffed. It could be marrying Sandra and having two wonderful sons. It could be getting a full set of zero penalties in a 4×4 trials event. Sometimes it is an achievement just to make that perfect Yorkshire Pudding that has risen just so, or to lay down that beautiful weld, or the day you get your puppy to sit on command, climbed that 130ft route in the Lake District, sailed a 55 tonne yacht fast enough to water ski behind it, the day the dragonfly perched on your outstretched finger or you won at Jenga. I prefer to think of achievements as the nuts and bolts that hold life together, they are all equally important. Although, perhaps, some are more equal than others.
We seem to be living in a celebrity culture today – so if you could be a celebrity who would you be and why?
I have never wanted to be famous, celebrity can be so shallow and rarely lasts forever. Who needs all that fuss?
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)?
Some great Science Fiction, Star Trek, Doctor Who. A good action movie, science/engineering documentary or the Last Night of the Proms.
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?
I was born in 1956 in the north eastern seaside town of Hartlepool where my playground often included the miles of beaches in the area and the docklands of what was in those days a busy port.
Summarise your musical career to date in no more than twenty words!
Grandparents Piano as a child, at about 14, played Flugel horn, after deciding I didn’t like carrying a big drum, for a small church band. Stopped playing brass when I went to college, started again around 2000 when my eldest son decided to learn Cornet. Later, Sandra bought me a Flugel horn for a birthday present & I started my first ever formal music lessons. So have since played, Flugel Cornet & settled (for the moment) on Trumpet with Shepley Band.
Cor, 20 words is far too few!!!!
When did you join Shepley Band – and more importantly, why on earth did you join?!
Around 2002 , John Roddan persuaded me to join Shepley Band. So for the first time in almost 20 years I played Flugel in a band.
What do you enjoy about being part of Shepley Band? We assume you enjoy the band of course!
A great bunch of people, from Grandchild to Grandparent we all just have a great time. When I’m playing music, I just forget about all the niggles of working for a living. Music is good for the soul and keeps the brain on its toes too.
What has been your favourite moment with Shepley Band?
There are so many, I love the carols around the village Christmas tree, the outdoor concerts in the summer and the feeling of being among a fabulous bunch of people – especially when we get it right on the night.
What’s your favourite piece of music of all time?
I enjoy listening to all sorts of music, especially if it has a good tune. My first record purchased was of Holst’s Planet Suite & I still think it is wonderful. Later along came Vivaldi & the New World Symphony which is fabulous. Pink Floyd has featured very highly in my playlist, so has Queen along with numerous classical pieces and even some jazz. I have never been keen on naming one favourite. However, if I have to name one it has to be Rodrigo’s “Concierto de Aranjuez”, 2nd movement especially in its brass format as “Orange Juice” as featured in “Brassed Off” probably due to the Flugel Horn.
Who’s your favourite composer? Those still living don’t count by the way – it’s all noise with them!
There are so many, who can dislike Mozart? I like Pink Floyd so that places Roger Waters high on the list & he’s not even dead yet. Freddie Mercury, unfortunately is dead, contributed so much. I like Shostakovich, Khachaturian, Vivaldi, Holst, Vaughan Williams & John Williams… As I said, I have never been keen on naming favourites.
Apart from all the hours you put in every day practising (obviously) what else do you get up to in the real world?
In the “real” world, I am a chartered engineer, working as Technical Manager for probably the largest Cremator manufacturer in the world. As a career, it certainly makes for some interesting conversations in the pub.
Fantasy Dinner Table – imagine you’re having dinner – who would you want on either side of you – and why?
I can think of nobody better to have around me than my friends, however it is always good to introduce someone new at a dinner party. Perhaps an evening sat between Stephen Hawking & Gene Roddenberry would be interesting, if a little difficult to arrange
Oh, and what’s your favourite food – after Sheila’s World Famous Ginger Biscuits?
Most things meaty, big & spicy. Given the choice of savoury or sweet, I would always go savoury. But, Sheila’s Ginger Biscuits really are so good…
Your private plane is sitting on the runway at Shepley Aerodrome. Where would you like to go today – and why?
In my twenties I lived on a 63ft Schooner, Wild Knight, which belonged to the parents of my friend Andrew Stewart. It was my intention to sail around the world with them, unfortunately in the end the boat did it without me on board. There were only 2 places I really felt I wanted to see on the trip. One we did get to & the other was Bora Bora. I would fly to Bora Bora, but may take in a lot of other places on the way – after all it is my private plane.
Does it have warp drive? I just thought of…
You’re a very modest individual, shy and retiring (like everyone in Shepley Band) – but what’s been your greatest achievement to date?
I could say it was playing in Shepley Band to a huge audience beside Lake Garda in Italy, or in a packed hall in Väckelsång in Sweden. It could be hitting that top C when it really mattered or that 4 bar solo that for once didn’t get fluffed. It could be marrying Sandra and having two wonderful sons. It could be getting a full set of zero penalties in a 4×4 trials event. Sometimes it is an achievement just to make that perfect Yorkshire Pudding that has risen just so, or to lay down that beautiful weld, or the day you get your puppy to sit on command, climbed that 130ft route in the Lake District, sailed a 55 tonne yacht fast enough to water ski behind it, the day the dragonfly perched on your outstretched finger or you won at Jenga. I prefer to think of achievements as the nuts and bolts that hold life together, they are all equally important. Although, perhaps, some are more equal than others.
We seem to be living in a celebrity culture today – so if you could be a celebrity who would you be and why?
I have never wanted to be famous, celebrity can be so shallow and rarely lasts forever. Who needs all that fuss?
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)?
Some great Science Fiction, Star Trek, Doctor Who. A good action movie, science/engineering documentary or the Last Night of the Proms.
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. Less Greed in the world, it seems to me that most of the world’s troubles are rooted in greed.
2. A pair of Joe 90 glasses programmed with the skills of Wynton Marsalis
2. A pair of Joe 90 glasses programmed with the skills of Wynton Marsalis
Who are you and what instrument do you play?
Tony Readman, almost Trumpet player, Vice Chairman and often roadie for the heavy bits.
Tony Readman, almost Trumpet player, Vice Chairman and often roadie for the heavy bits.
The Shepley Band Interview
