John began playing the cornet at 10 years old with Grimethorpe Juniors before moving up to join the Grimethorpe Colliery senior band in 1967, playing ‘bumper up’ from 1972 to 1980.

Seeking a new challenge, John left to play Principal cornet with the Kirkland Lake Brass Band in Canada! However he must have become homesick as he returned to play with Grimethorpe again in 1982, and once again took up the position as bumper up between then and 1989. During this time John also had a spell as Band Master!

He then decided that the hard mining life wasn’t for him and decided to become a ‘Fairey’! Not an actual fairy, but joined ‘The Fairey Band’ on Rep and then Solo cornet for a time before taking the decision to retire from playing (some say he still has!) at the tender age of 38. 

He was dragged kicking and screaming out of retirement some 10 years later to have two spells on Solo cornet at Ransomes between 1999 and 2003 until arriving at Carlton Main Frickley in 2004, again on Solo cornet where he is also Band Manager and Band master. 

John enjoys conducting when the opportunity arises and has done so at all levels with some success though away from banding, John likes nothing better than strapping himself into some leathers (the bike kind) and can usually be found in the garage playing with his spanners, or tinkering about with his motor bike or even out riding (providing the sun is shinning!).