Rob spent almost eight years performing percussion with Brass Bands. His first appearance, at the age of seven, was on Sunday 4th December 1994 with Spennymoor Junior Band playing Christmas Carols at the entrance to Sainsbury's Supermarket at the Arnison Centre, Durham. He played his little red junior 'Hohner' drum set which he had received the previous Christmas. Sue Norris conducted the band on that cold afternoon.

Rob's final Brass Band appearance, at the age of fifteen, was with Ferryhill Town Band on Sunday 19th May 2002 at the British Legion Club, Ferryhill Station. It was fitting that Sue Norris should be there once again to conduct his final performance.

During those eight years supporting brass bands, Rob played percussion in nearly 200 concerts performing with the following bands:

Spennymoor Junior Band

Spennymoor Youth Band

Spennymoor Town Band

Ferryhill Town Band

Northumbria Police Band

Ever Ready Band

Fishburn Band

Lanchester Band 

SPENNYMOOR JUNIOR BAND (1994 - 2001)

PERFORMANCES (32)

04/12/94          Sainsbury’s Store, Arnison Centre, Durham

10/12/94          Spennymoor Town Hall Xmas Concert

17/06/95          Spennymoor Town Hall Concert

16/09/95          Spennymoor Town Hall Concert

14/10/95          Spennymoor Town Hall Concert

11/11/95          Opening of ‘John Kitson Gates’, Spennymoor.

09/12/95          Spennymoor Town Hall Xmas Concert

11/12/95          Sainsbury’s Store, Arnison Centre, Durham

11/05/96          Spennymoor Town Hall. NCH sponsored play

22/06/96          Spennymoor Town Hall Concert

14/09/96          Spennymoor Town Hall Concert

07/12/96          Spennymoor Town Hall Charity Concert

15/12/96          Sainsbury’s Store, Arnison Centre, Durham

21/12/96          Spennymoor Town Hall Xmas Concert

21/06/97          Spennymoor Town Hall Concert

07/12/97          Sainsbury’s Store, Arnison Centre, Durham

20/12/97          Spennymoor Town Hall Xmas Concert

21/12/97          Sainsbury’s Store, Arnison Centre, Durham

20/06/98          Spennymoor Town Hall Concert

12/09/98          Spennymoor Town Hall Concert

24/10/98          Durham Town Hall Fundraising

19/12/98          Spennymoor Town Hall Xmas Concert

20/12/98          Sainsbury’s Store Arnison Centre, Durham

03/06/99          Foyer of Theatre Royal Newcastle

03/07/99          Spennymoor Town Hall Concert

18/09/99          Spennymoor Town Hall Concert

27/11/99          Spennymoor Town Hall Concert

11/12/99          Spennymoor Town Hall Xmas Concert

22/01/00          Spennymoor Town Hall Concert

20/05/00          Middlestone Moor Community Centre

16/09/00          Spennymoor Town Hall Concert

03/06/01          Bandstand Exhibition Park, Spennymoor

SPENNYMOOR YOUTH BAND (1995 - 2001)

PERFORMANCES (74)

01/12/95          Spennymoor Leisure Centre Concert with Fishburn Brass

05/12/95          Asda Store, Spennymoor

13/12/95          Sainsbury’s Store, Arnison Centre, Durham

16/12/95          Asda Store, Spennymoor

20/12/95          Durham University Business School

21/12/95          Clarence Court Residential Home, Spennymoor

22/12/95          St Aidens Church, Chilton

11/02/96          Empress Ballroom, Winter Gardens, Blackpool

01/03/96          St Pauls Church, Spennymoor

11/05/96          Spennymoor Town Hall. NCH sponsored play

23/06/96          Police HQ Aykley Heads, Durham

07/07/96          Middleton-in- Teesdale Band Contest

21/09/96          Market Place, Durham City

05/10/96          Ferryhill Methodist Church

07/12/96          Spennymoor Town Hall Charity Concert

15/12/96          Sainsbury’s Store, Arnison Centre, Durham

16/12/96          St Margarets Home for the Elderly, Durham City

18/12/96          St Aidan’s Church Chilton

22/12/96          Asda Store, Spennymoor

09/02/97          Empress Ballroom, Winter Gardens, Blackpool

22/03/97          St.Pauls Church, Spennymoor

26/04/97          Market Square, Durham City

18/05/97          Tudhoe St Charles School, Spennymoor

21/06/97          Spennymoor Town Hall Concert

22/06/97          Hackworth Park Bandstand, Shildon

04/07/97          Spennymoor Town Hall

06/07/97          Middleton-in-Teesdale Contest

06/09/97          High West Road, Crook – surprise birthday party

13/09/97          Spennymoor Town Hall

20/09/97          Market Square, Durham City

06/12/97          Spennymoor Town Hall with Fishburn Band

07/12/97          Sainsbury’s Store, Arnison Centre, Durham

08/12/97          St Aidans Church, Chilton

13/12/97          Spennymoor Town Hall (am)

13/12/97          Bishop Auckland Methodist Church (pm)

16/12/97          St Margarets Home for the Elderly, Durham City

21/12/97          Sainsbury’s Store, Arnison Centre, Durham

22/12/97          Durham University Business School

15/02/97          Empress Ballroom, Winter Gardens, Blackpool

09/04/98          Spennymoor Town Hall

25/04/98          Methodist Church, Cockton Hill, Bishop Auckland

17/05/98          Tudhoe St Charles School, Spennymoor

07/06/98          High Shincliffe School Concert

20/06/98          Coxhoe Carnival

05/07/98          Middleton-in-Teesdale Contest

12/07/98          Beamish Museum Bandstand

05/12/98          Spennymoor Town Hall

06/12/98          Asda Store, Arnison Centre, Durham

12/12/98          Newgate Shopping Centre, Bishop Auckland

20/12/98          Sainsbury’s Store Arnison Centre, Durham

14/02/99          Empress Ballroom, Winter Gardens, Blackpool

01/06/99          Foyer of Theatre Royal Newcastle

04/07/99          Middleton-in-Teesdale, Contest

16/10/99          Durham Cathedral

27/11/99          Spennymoor Town Hall Concert

16/12/99          Peterlee Community College

20/12/99          Sainsbury’s Store, Arnison Centre, Durham

21/12/99          St Aidans Church, Chilton

22/01/00          Spennymoor Town Hall Concert

22/04/00          Valkenburg, Holland

23/04/00          Spa, Belgium

24/04/00          Kaatsheuvel, Holland

06/05/00          Bandstand, Market Place, Spennymoor

25/06/00          Great Aycliffe Show, Newton Aycliffe

30/06/00          West Cornforth Community Centre

02/07/00          Middleton-in-Teesdale Contest

25/11/00          Spennymoor Town Hall with Simone Rebello

01/12/00          St Pauls Church, Spennymoor

14/12/00          Peterlee Community College

20/01/01          Spennymoor Town Hall

08/04/01          St Johns Church, Neesham Rd, Darlington

03/06/01          Bandstand Exhibition Park, Spennymoor

01/07/01          Market Place, Durham City

01/12/01          Spennymoor Town Hall with Fishburn Band

SPENNYMOOR TOWN BAND (1996 – 99)

PERFORMANCES (36)

31/08/96          Electrolux Open Day, Spennymoor

14/09/96          Spennymoor Town Hall

19/09/96          St David’s Church Hall, Tudhoe Village

27/10/96          Pontin’s Holiday Centre, Prestatyn, Wales

16/11/96          Pavilion Piazza, Winter Gardens, Blackpool

21/12/96          Spennymoor Town Hall Xmas Concert

02/02/97          Peterlee Leisure Centre Contest

15/03/97          Dolphin Centre Darlington Contest

11/04/97          St Aidans College Durham

16/04/97          Framwellgate Comprehensive School, Durham

21/06/97          Spennymoor Town Hall Concert

29/06/97          Byers Green Church Summer Fayre

05/07/97          Spennymoor Annual Gala

11/07/97          Chilton – Playing to the banor.

12/07/97          Durham Miners Gala

13/07/97          Beamish Museum Bandstand

19/07/97          Byers Green Carnival

13/09/97          Spennymoor Town Hall Concert

15/11/97          Pavilion Piazza, Winter Gardens, Blackpool

20/12/97          Market Place, Spennymoor (am)

20/12/97          Spennymoor Town Hall Xmas Concert

01.02/98          Peterlee Leisure Centre Contest

22/03/98          Dolphin Centre Darlington Contest

24/03/98          St Aidans College, Durham

10/03/98          Harry Ramsdens Metro Centre, Gateshead

20/06/98          Spennymoor Town Hall Concert

21/06/98          D.L.I. Museum, Durham

04/07/98          Spennymoor Annual Gala

11/07/98          Durham Miners Gala

12/09/98          Harry Ramsdens, Guiseley, West Yorks

12/09/98          Spennymoor Town Hall

26/09/98          Spennymoor Leisure Centre

14/11/98          Pavilion Piazza, Winter Gardens, Blackpool

05/12/98          Sainsburys Arnison Centre, Durham

19/12/98          Spennymoor Town Hall

07/02/99          Spennymoor Leisure Centre

FERRYHILL TOWN BAND (1996 - 2002)

PERFORMANCES (44)

22/03/96          St Luke Church Hall, Ferryhill

09/10/99          All Saints Church, Ferryhill

27/11/99          Wedding at St.Peters Chapel, Auckland Castle

28/11/99          Hartlepool Contest

02/12/99          Methodist Church Cockton Hill Rd, Bishop Auckland

06/02/00          Spennymoor Leisure Centre Contest

10/03/00          Spennymoor Leisure Centre Concert

18/03/00          Dolphin Centre Darlington Contest

25/03/00          Ferryhill Methodist Church

20/05/00          Ferryhill Leisure Centre

24/06/00          Sports Day, Gainford

24/06/00          Mainsforth Community Centre

01/07/00          Market Place, Ferryhill

07/07/00          March with the banners, Ferryhill

08/07/00          Durham Miners Gala

13/08/00          South Park, Darlington

19/08/00          Whitworth Hall, Spennymoor – wedding

19/08/00          Bishop Auckland Town Hall

20/08/00          Beamish Museum Bandstand

07/08/00          Spanish Hall, Winter Gardens, Blackpool

15/10/00          St Lukes Church, Ferryhill

22/10/00          Royal Albert Hall, London

12/11/00          Town Hall, Ferryhill

25/11/00          Spennymoor Town Hall

26/11/00          Borough Hall, Hartlepool Contest

07/12/00          St Johns Church, Shildon

04/02/01          Spennymoor Leisure Centre Contest

10/03/01          Ferryhill Methodist Church

18/03/01          Dolphin Centre, Darlington Contest

23/06/01          Leasingthorne Colliery Banner Parade

07/07/01          St Johns Church, Shildon

08/07/01          South Park, Darlington

13/07/01          March with banner, Ferryhill Town Hall

14/07/01          Durham Miners Gala

21/07/01          Chilton Family Day, Chilton Working Mens Club

12/08/01          Ferryhill Gala

19/08/01          Beamish Museum

08/09/01          St Clares Church, Newton Aycliffe

15/09/01          Methodist Church, Ireshopeburn

22/09/01          Guildhall, Preston Contest

03/11/01          Methodist Church, Bishop Auckland

24/11/01          Winter Gardens, Blackpool Contest

03/02/02          Spennymoor Leisure Centre Contest

19/05/02          British Legion Club, Ferryhill Station

NORTHUMBRIA POLICE BAND (1998)

PERFORMANCES (2)

03/10/98          St Mary’s Cathedral, Coulby Newham. Concert

13/11/98          Bailey Hall, Police HQ, Ponteland. Concert   

LANCHESTER BAND (1998)

PERFORMANCES (1)

19/09/98          Tanfield Lea Methodist Church. Concert

THE EVER READY BAND (2000)

PERFORMANCES (1)

02/09/00          Mainsforth Community Centre, Ferryhill. Concert

THE FISHBURN BAND (1997 - 2001)

PERFORMANCES (2)

06/12/97          Spennymoor Town Hall. Concert

01/12/01          Spennymoor Town Hall. Concert