Jeff moved onto Solo Euphonium seat in 2002. After being propelled at birth into the brass band world by two very influential parents, Jeff started playing instruments before he cares to remember, but commenced his playing career with Spennymoor Youth and Junior Bands from around eight years old. Taking inspiration from conductor, Sue Norris and peripatetic teacher, Derek Scollard, Jeff progressed rapidly through his music grades, reaching grade 8 at fifteen years. Because of this, Jeff moved up through the ranks from Thornley Colliery Band to Peterlee where he was groomed as a soloist by conductor, Tommy Maddison, entering and winning solo contests against established Championship players. Whilst receiving tuition from Fishburn's ex-solo euphonium player, Clive Parker, Jeff gained the gift of being able to count in many time signatures other than 4/4 and has been a member of Fishburn Band since 1998. Since then, Jeff has made his debut at the Royal Albert Hall, appeared as a guest soloist with the Versatile Brass and has been receiving tuition from world renowned euphonium maestro, Stephen Mead. Jeff's aims for the future are: to eat five kebabs a day and become the third largest euphonium player in the country; also to be village flat cap wearing champion for the third year running; hold the crown for his prize winning leeks for another year and see his whippets and pigeons hit fine form in the village olympics. One thing's for sure, with Jeff's vivid imagination, there's never a dull moment! Jeff' and Fishburn's Solo Baritone player Caroline (nee Jackson) were married on 26th July 2003.
The Band had the pleasure of providing the music for the service. They have since been blessed with a daughter Abigail, in February 2007.
Second Euphonium
Steve Clinton
Steve joined Fishburn in 2007 having previously guested with the Band on a number of occasions. He previously played for Ever Ready Band and BHK Horden Band.
Euphonium/Baritone Neil Simpson
Neil started playing at junior school, age 7 years, initially wanting to play cornet but the school only had a 'spare' baritone. After joining Meltham and Meltham Mills Band he was taken under the wing of Jack Manchester whose main aim was always to play musically. At age 13 Neil progressed to the Senior Band who were then in the 1st Section of the Yorkshire area but this was short lived as he moved North with his family due to work commitments. Wanting to keep 'banding' he contacted a Mr Hutchinson, not knowing that he was secretary of Ever Ready. He went to one of their rehearsals but wasn't given the opportunity to play with the band or offered an audition...big, big mistake. He decided therefore to join the 'local' band, Consett Whitbread, and it was there that he met up with Clive Parker and actually took over on the 'end chair' when Clive left the band. 'Big Neil' as he is affectionately known, joined Fishburn Band back on his beloved baritone just after Ian Robinson took over the baton in 1991 and has recently moved onto euphonium in early December 2002. Modesty prevails when Neil states that he takes full credit for the upturn in Fishburn Band's achievements since arriving! One of the 'Bowburn' boys in the band, and a staunch Newcastle supporter, Neil is married to Lynne, former horn player with Spennymoor Band. Neil ensure the smooth running of all things financial as he is the band's Treasurer.
Solo Baritone Caroline Bell
Caroline joined Fishburn Band in early December 2002. Already previously well known to the band due to regularly playing at concerts and contests as a guest player, Caroline (nee Jackson) is the 'better half' of Solo Euphonium player Jeff Bell, having been married on 26th July 2003. Jeff and Caroline are the proud parents of Abigail, born February 2007. Caroline started playing Euphonium at the age of 9 through a local peripatetic service. They tried to give her a tenor horn, but she insisted that she wanted to play euphonium because it was the biggest instrument there! Caroline didn't start playing with brass bands until the age of 17, starting with Westoe, followed by Boldon Colliery and Ever Ready bands playing either euphonium or baritone. Caroline attended Salford University, during which time she moved onto Baritone permanently and has never looked back! As part of her university studies, Caroline displayed great flair for composition and arranging. Having produced pieces for the band to play, she wrote and arranged music in preparation for her (and Jeff's!) wedding at which the band were given the honour of playing. Now in the teaching profession, Caroline fits well into the band alongside several other teachers and is a welcome addition of which we are sure will benefit and improve the standard of the band (and she can keep Jeff in check at the same time!) Caroline states that she is very proud to be the "first female in the euph and bari section' for ages", and it is her ambition to play at the Royal Albert Hall and win a major contest. We're all with you on that one Caroline!
Second Baritone Neil Parkin
Neil's first note was played on his Dad's Bb Bass when only two years old and for as long as he can remember attended concerts and contests with Cockerton Band. After many self confessed failed attempts, Neil finally started playing at the age of 14 under the tuition of Steve Goodwin of Cockerton Band, eventually joining the band on 2nd Baritone in 1987. After a brief spell with Barnard Castle Band, Neil rejoined Cockerton in 1990 before the lure of the Championship Section led him to Northumbria Police Band in 1993. It was in 1995 that Neil joined Fishburn Band, where he has achieved his ambition of winning the Northern Area Contest and to play in the Royal Albert Hall. Neil is a very active member of the Band's Committee and is also a very proud Darlington FC Supporter! Neil is married to Gillian and they have two daughters, Amy and Eve.
Second Baritone Stewart Wilson
Stewart joined Fishburn Band in 1969 having been taught to play whilst at Bowburn Secondary School (otherwise known as the Martin Borman Comprehensive for wayward boys and girls). Playing influences over the years have included Trevor Groome, Peter Lord and his music teacher David Whittaker, who actually saw some good in the boy, taking him and others just like him under his wing. David Whittaker helped develop his and others' hidden musical skills, steering them onto the path of righteousness as they say, which allowed Fishburn to become the beneficiaries when he was one of seven young players to join the band in 1968-69. The injection of young and eager talent helped establish the band as a fighting force and became one of the up and coming bands in the 70's. As a fourteen year old Stewart watched Maurice Murphy perform at the Royal Albert Hall playing a Cornet Concerto with massed bands, and from that moment on he was hooked and so began his love affair with banding. Throughout the years he was one of the members of the band to continually play as it rose through the sections from the fourth to the Championship Section playing exclusively on euphonium from the age of sixteen. This culminated in one of his ambitions being achieved, playing Solo Euph at the Royal Albert Hall in 1980 where the Band gained a creditable 11th position on Wilfred Heaton's 'Contest Music'. With the passage of time most of his ambitions have now just about been realised, and though time has been kind in some respects, he still as three ambitions left:
(1) To walk out of Durham's Miners Gala sober (no hope there)!
(2) To pilot a battlecruiser off the shoulder of Orion (strange boy) and,
(3) To die after Ron Bannister because "I think we'll have to shoot that bugger!" (Keep it up Ron).
It is now Stewart's goal to help others achieve the dream, and to assist Fishburn in any way he can. A hard working bandsman, Committee member,Trustee and all round good guy(!), Stewart is renowned for being thorough in any task he carries out - and believe me, his rates are very cheap!!
This site is maintained by John and Audrey Gill
All information on this site is the copyright of Fishburn Band and must not be reproduced in any form without our express permission
