One of Welsh bandings finest players will be quietly celebrating a personal milestone at the Welsh Regional Championships in Swansea on Sunday.

Johnny Sop

John Evans – ‘Johnny Sop’ to everyone in the Principality, will have notched up 50 years of contesting at the Regionals this year – something he may want to keep a little under wraps, but will in fact be a bit of a well deserved achievement to celebrate.

John started playing at the age of 7 and a year later played at his first Area — 50 years ago this year.

John started playing at the age of 7 and a year later played at his first Area — 50 years ago this year4BR

Family affair

His regional career started with Rhymney Youth Band conducted by Richard Nash, and two years later his sister Ann followed in his footsteps. In fact it was something of a family tradition as his mother Katie was on the women’s committee whilst father Vivian was an avid supporter and eventually band librarian.

The band subsequently won the Third Section and went on to represent Wales at the national finals, and as the youngest competitor that year he attracted newspaper attention from the Daily Herald.

Hooked

With that he was hooked and went on to play with the Gwent Youth band as well as for many years the Rhymney Band (which eventually became Hymac Works) under the direction of C. Brian Buckley.

John subsequently moved to play with Parc and Dare, winning the area championship on many occasions, as well as representing Wales at the European Championship. He also started his conducting career with Abertillery Youth Band with the family tradition continued as he coaxed his eldest daughter Leanne to join on percussion as they too played at the Nationals in London.

Reputation

He further confirmed his reputation as one of the best players produced in Wales in the last four decades when he joined the BTM Band, playing both soprano and principal cornet, whilst he also successfully conducted the Pontypool Band. Once again the family bug for banding was bitten as his younger daughters Janine and Jemma were brought into play too!

50 Years

He made another top section move to Cory for a number of very successful years as they won the double in 2000 and has continued to help out many other bands over years, both playing and conducting.

50 years isn’t a very long time in banding it seems, especially if you have been as busy as John!