About Us
Staines Brass Bands have been making music since 1930, and have occupied the band HQ in the Lammas Recreation Ground in Staines since 1990.
Formerly the Staines United Temperance Band rehearsing at the Staines Methodist Church, the band has grown to include both a contesting brass band competing at the top national levels, Staines Brass, and a high-quality concert band performing in and around the borough, the Staines Lammas Band.
Staines Brass rehearse on a Thursday night, 8pm-10pm
Staines Lammas Band rehearse on a Tuesday night, 8pm-10pm
Band President: John O'Hara | Band Vice President: Robin Sider
Staines Brass
1st Section Band
Musical Director: Tariq Ahmed
Tariq’s life in Brass Banding started at primary school when a Tenor Horn was randomly passed to him from a selection of brass instruments that the school had in stock. He stuck with the Tenor Horn from that moment on, progressing through the Blackburn and Darwen Junior Band and going on to join the Lancashire Youth Band on Principal Horn.
After progressing through Blackburn and Darwen's ‘B’ band and establishing himself in the ‘Senior’ band, Tariq eventually joined the Freckleton Band, with whom he had the memorable experience of winning the 1st section National finals.
Tariq enjoyed significant spells with the Wingates, Besses o’th’ Barn and Leyland Bands. Highlights included several CD & BBC Radio 2 recordings, European tours, appearances at the British Open Brass Band Contest & winning the North West Regionals with Leyland under Garry Cutt. Some of the more eccentric moments were playing a solo dressed as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and posing for a ‘Calendar Girls’ inspired photoshoot standing on top of a tank in Skegness!
Tariq’s conducting experience began with the Blackburn and Darwen ‘B’ Band. He was appointed as Musical Director of Blackpool Brass in 2011 and achieved significant contest successes over a three-year period. This included 1st places at the Northern Open, Fleetwood Contest & Brass At The Guild.
Following a relocation to London, Tariq was delighted to be appointed as Resident Conductor at Staines Brass in January 2020, and now looks forward to being part of the band’s rebuilding journey.
Musicians:
Cornets
Soprano - Sean Kelly
Principal - John Campbell
Front Row - Peter Daniels,
Dom Cotton, David Jessop, Bob Hawkins
Repiano - Zoe Macdonald
2nd - Joan Barker, Jacqueline Panayides
3rd - Joanne Day, Sue Maple
Flugel and Horns
Flugel - Kevin Barker
Solo Horn - Emma Elliot-Smith
1st Horn - Charlotte Bowater
2nd Horn - Heather Rowlands
Euphoniums & Baritones
Solo Euphonium - David Watkins
2nd Euphonium - Stephanie Westwood
1st Baritone - Nigel Campbell
2nd Baritone - VACANCY
Trombones
1st - Derek Muir
2nd - VACANCY
Bass - VACANCY
Basses
EEb - Ewan Saunders, VACANCY
BBb - Alan Westwood, VACANCY
Percussion
Dave Longman, Jamie Mark
Staines Lammas Band
Community Band
Musical Director: Lee Woodward
Born in Manchester, Lee started playing the trombone at age eleven. After playing for several bands Lee became principal trombone of Blackburn & Darwen Band, notable highlights with the band included 6th place at the National Brass Band Championship finals and winning the Pontin's National Championships in the first section.
In 1992 Lee joined the army as a musician, serving with the Band of The King's Regiment before joining the Band of The Irish Guards in 1994 where he had his first taste of conducting. Lee joined the Band of The Royal Logistic Corps as principal trombone in 2010, retiring from service in 2014.
Whilst in the Army, Lee played for local brass bands including Staines Brass and Yiewsley & West Drayton and joined the Almac Bisley Band as Musical Director in 2007. In 2009 Lee moved to the Saint Sebastian Wokingham Band, and under his leadership the band came first at the Regional Area Contest (3rd Section), earning promotion to the 2nd Section and an appearance at the National Finals, a landmark in the band’s history. The band qualified again in 2015 for the National Finals in the 2nd Section, another first for the band.
Lee joined Staines Lammas Band in 2014 as MD and has continued to develop the band and build a loyal following. Under Lee's direction "The Lammas" have won the annual "Challenging Brass" competition held in Addlestone for six consecutive years.
In 2017 Lee was appointed MD of Alder Valley brass, a 1st Section band based in Farnham.
Musicians:
Cornets
Soprano - Llewellyn Wells
Principal - Peter Wallace
Front Row - Anna Appleyard,
Caz Woods, VACANCY
Repiano - Caitlin Jones
2nd - Chris Venn
3rd - Malcolm Brown
Flugel and Horns
Flugel - Andrew Tovey
Solo Horn - Emma Elliot-Smith
1st Horn - Tina Burgess
2nd Horn - Amy Wells
Euphoniums & Baritones
Solo Euphonium - Paul Henry
2nd Euphonium - Andy Barrett
1st Baritone - John Bunyan
2nd Baritone - VACANCY
Trombones
1st - Leigh Wallis
2nd - Ricky Govan
Bass - Shelly Worthington
Basses
EEb - Kate Thulborn, Colin Northrop
BBb - Jim Davies, Jim Tozer,
Hayden Clapham
Percussion
Kit - Laura James
Tuned - VACANCY
