Roy Gunning - Principal Cornet

Roy started playing the trumpet at school at the age of 12. At home, he had to practice in the cold garage because his family couldn’t stand the noise. (Not much has changed there then). 

Encouraged to join a brass band by the peripatetic teacher, he joined Bideford Junior Band in North Devon. He went twice- it was a long way and the place smelt of fish. 

Undeterred, he joined Barnstaple Junior Band and met the Hinrischen Band Book. He took it away and practiced by himself until he could play some of it. This took some months. When he returned, they said “We thought you’d left”. So he did. 

With enthusiasm undimmed, he joined South Molton Junior Band. This band practised over a fish shop (bit of a pattern developing here) and Roy thought the smell was coming from the boy sat next to him. Started having lessons with a local music teacher who seemed to know what he was doing. Shortly afterwards, he committed suicide. Roy doesn’t think the two events were linked.

Over the next few years, he moved from back row to front row and eventually to principal for the Juniors and front row for the Seniors.

At age of 17, left the band following suspension for ‘bringing the band into disrepute’ (not much changed there either). 

Joined Torrington Silver Band as principal cornet and had a lot of fun before moving away to University in London. Played Repiano for the Aveley Band for a period and then front row for Hendon Band. 

Returned to Devon for a spell and principal for Torrington. Had more fun. 

Roy chose to move to Scarborough to train as a teacher, thinking that Yorkshire would be full of bands. Never having been further north than Bristol before, he didn’t know that all the decent bands were in the West Riding.

Soldiering on, he joined Scarborough Town Band where he eventually played principal when all the better players left. Joined East Yorkshire Brass when it was first formed, eventually rising to principal when they couldn’t find anyone else. 

Stopped banding due to family and job commitments but kept lip in at home for nearly 10 years until approached to join a newly formed group that practiced in a builder’s yard. Nostalgia for those freezing garage days beckoned. The notorious reign of terror known as ‘Simply Brass’ had begun. 

Previous Bands:

South Molton Town Band

Torrington Silver Band

The Aveley Band

The Hendon Band

Scarborough Town Band

East Yorkshire Brass

Recent Solo's:

Nightingale

Hailstorm

Perhaps Love