The Kippax Band

Established 1814

2nd Section National Finalists 2007

The Trombone Section

Paul first joined Kippax in 1985, for one year, then rejoined on solo trombone in August 1995. He took a family break for 18 months in 2000 and we were glad to welcome him back in 2002.

Paul has also played solo trombone for Allerton Bywater Colliery and for the Tingley Band, as well as a spell as 2nd trombone at Aceprint Gawthorpe.

His most memorable contesting moment came in 1988 with Allerton Bywater, when they won the 4th Section Nationals off the dreaded number one draw.

Jean started playing the Trombone at the age of eleven with the School Band and joined the Action Hall Band tutored by their Solo Trombone  Player Ted Burns. By the age of sixteen she was promoted to Solo Trombone, and in 1970 gained 3^rd Place in the Band’s Slow Melody Contest. Colin won it {must have bribed the judge}!

Jean left Ackton Hall and joined the Kippax Band in June 1977, and her first job was to play at Barnsley on the Miners Demo, what an introduction!! (tarmac ripping).

She married Colin in May 1978 and spent their “honeymoon” with the Band gaining 2^nd Place at the Grand Shield, after most of the Band had attended their Wedding and Reception {must have been something in the water}.  In 1979 the band needed another Percussionist, (most bands only had one in those days), so with only 3 weeks to go Brian Nicholson asked Jean to play the Timps at Bradford. The Band not only won the old 2^nd Section but also qualified for the National Finals in London. {her only time as a Shed Builder}

Jean then moved onto the Horn, playing 1^st Horn for more than 21 years, she helped out the Band again on 2^nd Trombone at the Mineworkers Blackpool Contest in 1985, Test Piece Promethus Unbound.  The Band gained 4^th Place in the Champion Section and Jean also had to help out the next Band on Stage {Blidworth Miners), helping them into 6^th Place.

Jean had a 3 month break from banding in 1990 to have their daughter Rebecca, who went on to play 2^nd cornet with the band for four and a half years before leaving in 2006 to concentrate on her studies.

Jean moved back onto the Trombone in 2000 playing Solo Trombone and won the Band’s Player of the Year award in the same year.

Jean is in her 30^th year with the band, and has been Secretary, Librarian and Committee Member. 

HIGHLIGHTS:

Qualifying for Mineworkers Finals Blackpool in 1975 with Ackton Hall

Qualifying for National Finals in 1976 with Ackton Hall

Winning Old  Section  in 1979 with Introduction, Allegro & Capprice. Kippax

1^st Place at Blackpool 1994 under Keith Wardle with Tam O’Shanters Ride – a faultless performance

2000 Player of the year

1^st Place at Butlins 2006 under K Wardle with Prometheus Unbound

1^st Place at Pontins 2006 under K Wardle with A Swiss Excursion

Qualifying for the National Finals 2007 

 More details on Dave to follow soon!

Keith stepped down from full time playing in February 2007 to concentrate on his role as Band Secretary. He still acts as our "reserve" trombonist and although we are looking forward to having two Bass Trombones on the march, the council have apparently ordered new tarmac for the roads in anticipation of the damage (only kidding boys!).

Keith's banding history involves the Kippax Old Prize Band, Kippax Allerton Bywater Workshops NUM Band, Kippax Allerton Bywater Colliery NUM Band, Kippax Selby Coalfield Band, Kippax RJB Band, Kippax UK Coal Band and, currently The Kippax Band. Lots of name changes, but Keith has been pretty much a constant within the band, despite twice trying to retire.

He joined in 1958 on 2nd horn and progressed to the 2nd baritone seat. However, it was in 1966 that Keith first appeared at the bottom of the trombone line initially, of course, on the old "G" trombone - he can still get the sound if you ask him nicely. These days, though, he produces the rather mellower tones of the modern Bass Trombone, providing the bedrock for the rest of the section.

Keith's first contest was at Rochdale in 1960, under the baton of Norman Morley, winning March, Hymn and Selection first prizes. He can't remember the march, but the test piece was "Selections from Tchaikovsky" and the hymn Morley's own arrangement of "Cloisters". Of all Keith's contest successes, he particularly recalls winning the (old) 2nd Section at Blackpool in 1968, playing "Lorenzo", a piece which we again played when it made its comeback in 2005 at Pontin's.

Over the years, Keith has done much to support the band and is currently Band Secretary, as well as Chairman of the Kippax Band Club. His sons Lee and Dean are current and former players, respectively, and wife Aileen is a committee member, former secretary and a staunch supporter of the band (she had little choice, did she?). Keith has two grandchildren, Bradley and Lauren, with a third on the way. He recently retired from working as a Health and Safety Officer and is loving his new-found leisure time.