John began playing trombone at school in Dorset and gaining valuable experience by playing with most of the village bands in North Dorset.  He became principal trombone of the Dorset County Youth Orchestra.  His conducting and leadership skills became recognised at the early age of 16 when he was appointed as conductor of the Weymouth Silver Band. 

Training for a career in teaching took him to Yorkshire for the first time and gave him the opportunity to play  in some of the top Yorkshire bands.  His subsequent teaching career took him to different parts of the country where his conducting career resumed with bands of all sections including the Ratby Co-op, Hepworth and Rockingham Bands.

John’s heart and talent has always been with training the younger generation of musicians.  At the age of 17 he started the Wessex Band Summer School, the biggest course of its type in the country.  He organised and directed this along with some of the biggest names in the brass band world for the next 32 years. In the year 2000, he was awarded membership of the Worshipful Company of Musicians in recognition of  his work with Youth and Music.  

As Deputy Head of Barnsley’s Performing Arts Development Service, John’s responsibilities have been for the music side of the service.  He has trained and conducted Barnsley Metropolitan Band since 1980.  Under his leadership, membership increased from 6 players to over 30 enthusiastic musicians.  In September 2007 he handed over responsibility as principal conductor to Alex Francis and has taken a back seat as Associate Conductor when Alex is unavailable, and occasionally gets his trombone out of its case!

Families and friends are included in most of the band activities to create a warm, supportive and friendly atmosphere.