Brass Bands England (BBE) has announced three new appointments following a successful advertising campaign, which attracted over 50 applications.

Lea, Lenton and Sandersfield

Darren Lea from Coventry and Vicky Lenton from Willingham near Cambridge have been appointed Liaison Officers with Graham Sandersfield from Sheffield taking on the role of Operations Co-ordinator.

BBE spokesperson Michael Waterson told 4BR: "We were advertising for a Liaison Officer (South) and a Liaison Officer (Midlands), but the territory was always going to depend on where the successful candidates lived.

We will now be dividing up the territory to take advantage of where Darren and Vicky are based."

Start dates

He added: "Both Darren and Vicky will report to newly-promoted Senior Liaison Officer Rachel Veitch-Straw and will start with us on 1st September. Graham's role is office-based in Barnsley and he will join us on 14th September."

Darren Lea, is currently principal cornet of Jaguar Land Rover Band, having also enjoyed spells at Desford Colliery, GUS, Ransome, William Davis and Brass Band of Central Florida.

He has also been involved in numerous organisations and funding projects and is keen to help bands strengthen and develop their organisations.

Vicky Lenton, who played for Waterbeach Brass at this year's Regional Championships, has been involved in banding all her life and is also looking forward to developing the benefits that banding can bring to all generations within communities.

She has recently played with Bedford Town Band, where her mother plays, as well as her father's band, Cottenham.

Both Darren and Vicky will report to newly-promoted Senior Liaison Officer Rachel Veitch-Straw and will start with us on 1st September. Graham's role is office-based in Barnsley and he will join us on 14th SeptemberBBE

Wealth of experience

On the appointment of Graham Sandersfield, Michael Waterson added: "Graham has no banding background, but has a wealth of experience in operational management in the charitable sector and in delivering activity programmes to young people, most notably as Head of Operations for the King's Foundation.

We look forward to welcoming Darren, Vicky and Graham to Brass Bands England and wish them every success in their new roles."