Pemberton Old Wigan JJB Band has announced three new signings in readiness for the forthcoming contest season.

Fiona Staples, a first year student at Salford University who is tutored by Russell Gray joins on the front row. Fiona is also principal cornet of St. Helens Youth Band.

New signings

Matt Fern has joined on third cornet and transferred over from Wingates, and made a winning debut at Brass at the Guild last weekend, whilst ex Sellers and Grimethorpe bass trombonist Stuart McCreedy has made a playing come back after retiring a few years ago.

To say it was fortuitous to meet Stuart at the concert was something of an understatement, and then to discover he had played in Sellers for 10 years alongside my wife Alison was another great coincidenceMD Mark Peacock

Fortuitous meeting

Conductor Mark Peacock told 4BR: "Tom Simm, our young bass trombonist had informed me that he was hoping to move away to university and that if we could find a replacement he would take a back seat to concentrate on his studies before leaving in the Autumn.

To say it was fortuitous to meet Stuart at the concert was something of an understatement, and then to discover he had played in Sellers for 10 years alongside my wife Alison was another great coincidence."

Mark paid tribute to cornet player Colin Knowles who after 15 years with the band has stepped down from the Senior band and joined Pemberton “B” to help Peter Ashley with all the youngsters on the cornet rank.

Tribute

"Colin has been a tremendous servant to the band and decided that now was the time to step down from the demands of Championship playing and put something back into the organisation by lending his experience to the B Band.

He is a true bandsman who will be missed from the Senior band, especially for his percussion playing in 'You Are My Sunshine'! We are all delighted that he will still be involved in the organisation and wish him well for the future."