The Band History

Phillip hails from the South Cheshire town of Sandbach, home of the famous Fodens Band. Joining Fodens in 1981, at the tender age of 14, he spent almost five years there under Musical Director Howard Snell, before securing a place at the Guildhall School of Music, where he studied trumpet with Paul Cosh (BBC Symphony Orchestra) and Rod Franks (London Symphony Orchestra) and conducting with Alan Hazeldine. 

After graduating from the Guildhall, he undertook freelance trumpet work before pursuing a career in marketing, firstly with Boosey & Hawkes and later with the Guinness Book of World Records. He then went on to spend 13 years at Faber Music as Sales & Marketing Director. Phillip left Faber in 2011 and set up both a marketing consultancy and Timbercroft Publishing. 

Phillip took up his brass band baton in 1996. His first band was Brent Brass, with whom he won the Fourth Section National Finals in 1997.  After spells with Luton Band, Regent Brass and Woking Band he accepted the position of Musical Director at Ware Brass in 2006, seeing them through steady promotion to the First Section, as well as making them one of the most successful concert-making bands in the Southern Counties. He took on a similar role with the St Albans City Band in 2009, creating a thriving community band. The happy relationship with both ended when Phillip and his family relocated to the Isle of Wight in the Summer of 2017.  

Phillip began adjudicating in the early 1990s, but had to forfeit that responsibility whilst working for Faber Music. He returned to adjudicating in 2012 and has recently adjudicated at both the London & Southern Counties and West of England Areas as well as Butlins' Mineworkers and ODBBA. Phillip is a member of the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators and also served on their Executive from 2013-2017.     

Phillip  was appointed Musical Director of Gosport Solent Brass in April 2022 and also conducts Abbey Brass on the Isle of Wight.