*
banner

Brighouse star helps Cancer Campaign

Brighouse flugel star John Lee has become a Booby Girl to help raise funds for Breast Cancer — and he has enjoyed every minute of it!

Boobs
 

Brighouse & Rastrick flugel horn player John Lee has taken on perhaps his greatest musical challenge yet – by teaming up with a band full of very determined women!

Joined forces

John has joined forces with the girls of Boobs & Brass to launch a CD entitled ‘Whatever it Takes’, to help raise funds and awareness of the work of Breast Cancer Research.

Available

The CD, which is now available to buy through 4BR, was launched just a few days ago at Brighouse & Rastrick’s concert in Kettering, where a packed house of well over 600 people sat back and enjoyed John’s performances with the band.

The cause is something that is close to John’s heart – even though the experience of playing with an all girl band was a little daunting!

For such a cause as this I would have done just about anything, so I’m in fact very proud to be known as a Booby Girl!John Lee

Amazing sales

However, the sales of the CD have already proven to be a revelation with well over 1,000 copies shifted in less than a week!

John told 4BR: "There wasn’t a spare seat in the house at the concert and the response to the CD launch has been staggering. All the proceeds of the sales go to the Breast Cancer Campaign and on the night we sold out within minutes. We’ve got orders from all over the country and response from people who support the campaign has been breathtaking."

Brave man

Maggie Betts from Boobs & Brass added: "John was a very brave man to come and play with us, given we are an all girl band, but he has been a perfect gentleman, and his playing is superb. We couldn’t have asked for anyone better to help us with the fund raising."

Help beat illness

John in fact put up the funding for the CD himself and sees it as his small contribution to helping find a cure. "I’ve wanted to do a solo CD for some time, but by doing it this way it gives me so much personal satisfaction that it is helping to beat such a terrible illness."

End result

The recording took place with the help of Music House Productions and John has been delighted with the end result.

"Whilst the recording was hard work, it was full of fun and good humour and the brilliant work of Keith Farrington and Shaun Trotter from Music House Productions just made it all another unbelievable experience for everyone putting this special album together and we sincerely thank everyone for their contribution."

Booby girl

John now has a bit of a headache in that the immediate success means that he has become a ‘honorary’ ‘Booby Girl’ – although he doesn’t mind the bit of ribbing he will get from his male counterparts!

"For such a cause as this I would have done just about anything, so I’m in fact very proud to be known as a Booby Girl! All I hope is that we can raise a substantial amount of funding to enable the researchers to find another piece of the jigsaw puzzle in seeking a cure for this terrible disease that affects so many of our families."

Buy the CD

If you wish to help the cause and enjoy some wonderful playing in the process, go to:

All proceeds of the 4BR sale go to the charity.

www.4barsrest.com/shopping/cd_detail.asp?id=824

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


cHATEUS

Nakariakov to help celebrate 30th French Open

May 24 • The French Open Championships take place in the Lore Valley next month — headed by a cocnert performance by the incredible Sergei Nakariakov.


Storyteller

Wright & Round: The World's Greatest Storyteller (arr. Philip Harper)

May 24 • The wonderful tales of Roald Dahl brought to musical life by Philip Harper.


British Open

British Open ticket sale date announced

May 22 • The general sale of tickets for the 172nd British Open Championships will open on Friday 29th May.


NYBBGB

New Horizons repeat for NYBBGB on You Tube

May 22 • The concert given by the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain featuring the world premiere of 'Victoria Wood: A Laugh Less Ordinary' is now available to enjoy on You Tube.


Newstead Brass - Mansfield MVC - Brass and Voices

Sunday 24 May • Forest Town Arena. Clipstone Road West,. Mansfield NG19 0EE


Contest: Whit Friday March Contests

Friday 29 May • Saddleworth & Tameside OL3


The Hepworth Band - Brassband Burgermusik Luzern

Saturday 30 May • Dewsbury Minster, Vicarage Road, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire WF12 8DD


Fulham Brass Band - Summer Concert

Friday 5 June • St Dionis Church, Parsons Green SW6 4UH


Sherborne Town Band - Friends

Sunday 7 June • Sherborne, Dorset-Pageant Gardens DT9 3NP


St John's Band (Mossley)

May 21 • We are a friendly, welcoming 4th section band based in Tameside, Greater Manchester. Following our 4th place at the North West regionals, we are looking for a Bb and Eb Bass player (position negotiable). We rehearse Tuesday & Thursday evenings in Mossley.


St John's Band (Mossley)

May 21 • We are a friendly, welcoming 4th section band based in Tameside, Greater Manchester. Following our 4th place at the North West regionals, we are looking for SOLO CORNET players (position negotiable). We rehearse Tuesday and Thursday evenings in Mossley.


Silk Brass

May 21 • Musical Director. Silk Brass are looking to recruit a suitably experienced person to take on this challenging and exciting position.


Martin Heartfield

GGSM, ARCM, PGCE
Conductor, Adjudicator, Educationalist


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd