40 years of commitment and dedication was rewarded by Alder Valley Band recently when Peter Haigh was presented with their 2013 ‘Player of the Year’ award by MD, Roger Burke.

40 years

Peter (right) has been playing the cornet for over 40 years, having started in a school band in Glossop, Derbyshire. He later played for Tintwistle Band when they were directed by the late John Golland (who even tried out some of his more avant-garde compositions on the band), as well as the great Norman Ashcroft.

Relocation

He relocated from North Derbyshire to the Aldershot area because of work and joined Aldershot Brass Ensemble, now Alder Valley, in 1984. With just a couple of breaks, has been a member ever since with spells playing solo and repiano cornet, flugel, horn and principal cornet since 2003.

Peter has been playing the cornet for over 40 years, having started in a school band in Glossop, Derbyshire4BR

Cutt above

Peter's told 4BR: “When I was principal cornet in the Glossop School Band, my deputy was a certain Gary Cutt. So at the time I was in the position of being able to tell him to ‘leave this bit out, I'll do it’! And he would – but not anymore!”

The ‘Most Improved Player’ award went to percussionist Peter Blake.