Committee Member

John was born in 1976 in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire to Scottish parents. Diagnosed with a rare retinablastoma at eighteen months old, but was fortunately cleared of this cancer by the age of five. John's percussion career starting by banging things on the kitchen table, but soon progressed when he joined his local band - The Tingley Band. This was his first time playing on a full drum kit, and thanks to the two established percussionists (Lee Noble & Steve Jones) made rapid progress. In 1992 John was asked to help out the Drighlington Junior Band at the Pontin's Contest. John took the decision to move permanently to the Drighlington Junior Band, and after four years moved into the main Drighlington Band, under the direction of Tony Whitaker.  John played in many concerts and concerts through out the United Kingdom, as well as undertaking tours of Italy and Germany - though the highlight has to be playing at the Royal Albert Hall in the 2000 National Brass Band Finals. As well as playing with the Drighlington Band, John also started to play with a local rock and roll band, playing 1960's and 70's repertoire. This music is a particular favourite of Johns, and when the opportunity arose to play with a Rochdale based rock Band, he jumped at the chance. However, the time commitment required to play in the three bands meant that John was burning the candle at both ends, and he took the decision to drop the Drighlington Band. Five months later, John was asked to help out for a concert by the Wakefield Metropolitan Band. John was invited to join the Band, and having enjoyed himself at the concert decided to accept. Whilst John was in the Band they achieved a 2nd & 1st Place at the Yorkshire Area Contest, earning a promotion to the Championship Section. 

After several years at Wakefield , John was asked to help out at the East Yorkshire Motor Services Band in late 2008, after which he was invited to join the Band on its June 2009 trip to the French Open. During this trip John was due to start the second half of the Gala Concert with a short drum solo - unfortunately John omitted to check that the Band was behind him when he went onto the stage, in fact they were holding a meeting in the changing room! His 10 minute drum solo proved to be the ideal audition and John was asked to join the Band as a permanent member. John honoured his commitment to Wakefield Metropolitan by playing at the National Finals, and Pontin's Contest, before joining EYMS in November 2009. He also decided to drop his rock and roll bands so that he was able to focus on the challenge of playing percussion at the highest level. John also decided to relocate to East Yorkshire to help him meet this challenge.    

Previous Bands

Wakefield Metropolitan Band

Drighlington Band

The Tingley Band

Cleethorpes Band

Graham was born in the brass band heartland of Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, and started playing the Tenor Horn at the age of 8.  By the time he was 13 it became clear that his limitations as a proper musician would result in a banding career in the shed building department. Once described as “percussionist extraordinaire”, he has enjoyed playing with most of Yorkshire’s top bands under many esteemed conductors, including Peter Parkes, Geoffrey Brand, Garry Cutt and David King.  Highlights of Graham’s playing career include performing the William Tell Overture with Yorkshire Building Society Band in 1995 in front of 10,000 people in Kenwood Park; playing with the James Shepherd Versatile Brass in the late 80’s; and sharing the stage with his son, Jonathan in winning the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain with Brighouse & Rastrick Band in 2010.

Recently Graham has enjoyed success with National Finals appearances with Hade Edge (2001, 2002 & 2003), Lockwood Brass (2006 & 2007), Skelmanthorpe (2008) and Brighouse & Rastrick (2010), in addition to winning the 2004 Scottish Open and 2005 Grand Shield with Hepworth. 

Undoubtedly though, the achievement he is the proudest of has been to help his son, Jonny, develop into a fine tenor horn player and musician.  Jonny joined Black Dyke Band at the age of 15 and is already establishing a reputation as composer of outstanding ability.  Graham is now resigned to being known as “Jonny Bates’s dad”. An invitation to help the East Yorkshire Motor Services Band at the Butlin’s Festival in January 2011 was readily accepted, and Graham’s contribution to the prize-winning bird warbling and cuckoo duet, was sufficient for him to decide to make a permanent move.

Hade Edge

Hepworth

Lockwood Brass

Skelmanthorpe Band

Brighouse & Rastrick