I played clarinet in the band between roughly 1993 and 1996.
After leaving the band in 1996 to study music at Hull University,
I gained my degree then worked at Music Sales in Bury for
four years. Two years ago I got married and started teaching
piano and clarinet full time and now also work as a peri
for Essex Music Services. Hello to anyone that remembers
me.
Natasha
Free (known as Natasha Woodard when in the band).
anonymously
Sid started me off playing when I joined the staff at Philip
Morant in 1979, and I played with him in the school band
and orchestra as well with the WBCB, as bass players were
always very thin on the ground. Many a cold evening was
spent on the back of a lorry at Christmas trying to stop
my lips freezing on the mouthpiece, keeping up with Sid,
dressed as Father Christmas, waving his arms ever more quickly
to maintain his circulation!
And memories of "Dixie Patrol" are fresh - I still
have the bass part.
There were some great nights.
Elaine
Ball
I played oboe in the band roughly between 1985 and 1991.
I left the band to go to university in Scotland to study Maths & German.
I played for the Edinburgh Concert Band for a few years and also in an Oom-Pah band in Germany!
After completing my degree I moved to London for 10 years.
I now live in Portsmouth with my trombone-playing partner and I teach Maths at secondary school.
I play piano for a Dance Band and I've been Principal Oboe (and Cor Anglais) for The Central Band of The Royal British Legion since 1996.
I owe Sid a lot - and I still enjoy playing the same music I was introduced to at West Bergholt.
I found the band's website, and write to congratulate you all on continuing the excellent work. I played tenor sax in it from about 1983 - 1988, and my sister Clare played flute (and appears in one of your archive pictures). Though, alas, I don't play the sax at the moment I still enjoy the music! Should you want to add something about me on the old members' page, after university (1987-91) I worked as a solicitor's clerk and then was ordained in 1999, and now serve as a vicar in Southend-on-Sea.
