Our Band

Dave Warren – Conductor & Musical Director

Dave Warren is the steady hand and big smile at the front of Play It Forward. As our conductor and musical director, he brings calm leadership, sharp musicianship, and a real passion for making music that makes a difference.

Off the podium, Dave is a professional life coach, and that shows — he has a natural way of bringing the best out of people, keeping the band motivated, focused, and enjoying every minute.

Whether he’s guiding a rehearsal or helping shape our next charity performance, Dave is at the heart of what we do.

Rick Asbury – Principal Cornet

Rick Asbury leads our cornet section with style, sparkle, and the smoothest jazz-leaning chops you’ll hear this side of Manchester. As our Principal Cornet, he sets the tone for the band — confident, musical, and always ready with a cracking top note when it matters.

Despite the name, he’s definitely not Rick Astley… the only rolling Rick does is after a pint. But put a cornet in his hands and he’s rock solid, reliable, and one of the real musical anchors of Play It Forward.

A talented cornet player with a love of jazz and years of musical experience behind him, Rick brings both skill and character to every performance we do.

Lesley Lewis – Solo Cornet

Lesley Lewis sits in the hot seat right next to our Principal Cornet, and she absolutely earns it. A wonderfully skilled cornet player with impressive dexterity and a bright, confident sound, Lesley brings real finesse to the front row.

Her journey into Play It Forward is one of our favourite stories — a chance meeting on the seafront in Cape Verde turned into a musical partnership, and we’ve never looked back.

A retired school teacher, Lesley has that perfect mix of calm, precision, and quiet determination. She supports the section beautifully, lifts every piece she plays, and is an essential part of our sound.

Steve Crook – Second Cornet

Steve Crook is a valued part of our second cornet team, bringing a high standard of playing and a steady, confident sound that really strengthens the section. He’s one of those players you can always rely on — solid, musical, and right there when it matters.

Outside of band life, Steve is a church minister, and he brings that gentle, wholesome calmness with him. When the rest of us start behaving like overgrown children (which is often), Steve is the quiet voice of reason that steadies the ship.

That said, he’s not always the calm one — especially when he’s tearing around on his motorbike. But whether he’s riding, preaching, or playing, Steve adds something special to the group.

Gill Robinson – Secretary & Second Cornet

Gill Robinson is one of the true cornerstones of Play It Forward. As our long-standing band secretary, she’s the one who keeps us organised, booked, reminded, nudged, herded, and generally behaving like a functional group of adults.

A founder member from the early days, Gill has been part of the band’s story from the very beginning. Her commitment is a big part of why Play It Forward is still going strong — she’s the glue that quietly holds everything together.

On the cornet bench, Gill is rock solid. Dependable, musical, and always there when the band needs her, she brings consistency and warmth to the section. Whether she’s playing or managing the chaos behind the scenes, Gill never lets the band down.

Dylan Taylor – Flugelhorn

Dylan Taylor is our flugelhorn player, idea generator, chief mischief-maker, and the unofficial “if anything needs doing, Dylan’s already halfway through building it” member of Play It Forward. With a rich, warm flugel sound and a knack for finding the emotional heart of any piece, Dylan brings real depth to the band’s performances.

Away from the music stand, he’s Mr “I’ve had an idea…” . If something needs organising, designing, fixing, building, recording, coding, or dragging into the 21st century — Dylan’s your man.

He balances musicianship with proper northern graft, adds humour to every rehearsal, and has a knack for keeping spirits high even when we’re running on cold brews and cold weather.

Most importantly, Dylan brings energy, creativity, and a steady dose of humour to the group. He keeps things moving, helps make the band better organised, and plays a big part in the welcoming, community feel that Play It Forward is known for.

A big heart, a big sound, and a bigger list of ideas than any human should realistically have.

Mark Robinson – Tenor Horn

Mark Robinson is our resident horn maestro — a lifetime player with bags of experience and a tone as solid as a brick outhouse. He’s one of those musicians who just gets the job done: no fuss, no panic, no drama… unless you count the moments he channels his inner Statler or Waldorf from The Muppets.

Sure, he can be a bit of a miserable git at times, but we wouldn’t have him any other way. Nothing phases him, ever. When it comes to standing up for a solo, Mark has nerves of steel, laser focus, and the kind of musical precision that makes the rest of us sit up a bit straighter.

An amazing musical technician and a real asset to Play It Forward, Mark brings experience, reliability, and a wickedly dry sense of humour to the band.

Andrew Dunham – Euphonium

Andrew Dunham holds down the euphonium seat with a gorgeous sound and tone that really fills out the heart of the band. He’s a confident, expressive player who brings real depth to every performance, whether it’s a lyrical solo line or a big warm section moment.

Outside of banding, Andy serves in the Rochdale Fire Service — a proper real-life hero, soon to be retiring after years on the job. That calmness and steady head show in his playing too… well, except when he’s tearing around on his scramble bikes and covering himself head-to-toe in mud. Then all bets are off.

He’s been a brilliant addition to Play It Forward: reliable, musical, easy-going, and always ready to get stuck in. The band’s better for having him.

Jimmy Tew – Eb Bass

Jimmy Tew is nothing short of a banding legend. He’s been playing longer than most of us have been alive, and he’s performed at just about every level you can name. As our Eb bass player, he anchors the bottom end with a sound you can absolutely lean on — solid, deep, and unmistakably “Jimmy.”

He’s one of the most reliable musicians you’ll ever meet, rarely missing a rehearsal and always turning up ready to graft. It’s no surprise he’s constantly in demand; players like Jimmy don’t come along often.

Before retiring, Jimmy was a press photographer — and he brings that same eye for detail, steady patience, and calm professionalism into the band room. His wealth of experience, both musical and otherwise, makes him hugely respected across the North West banding scene and far beyond.

Play It Forward is stronger, steadier, and prouder with Jimmy in the ranks.

George Guyer – Bass Trombone & Arranger

George Guyer — or Mr Rumpole to those who know him — holds down the bass trombone seat with power, warmth, and the kind of effortless depth that only comes from a lifetime of playing. Now well into his 80s and still going strong, George is proof that true musicians never slow down — they just gain even more style.

But his talents reach far beyond performance. George is an exceptional music arranger, and many of the pieces we play are shaped by his superb ear for harmony, detail, and balance. Every chart he writes fits the band perfectly and never fails to impress us.

Before retiring, George was a solicitor, and that same precision, patience, and sharp thinking shows up in his music and his presence in the band room.

A brilliant musician and a deeply valued member of Play It Forward, George brings experience, humour, and craftsmanship that enriches everything we do.

John Armbrister – Solo Trombone

John Armbrister is our solo trombone powerhouse — confident, versatile, and armed with more musical experience than most of us could dream of. An ex-soldier with military band credentials, John brings discipline, precision, and a rock-solid sound to every performance.

Affectionately known as Captain John, he’s the kind of player who can pick up any trombone and make it sing. And with a personal collection of over 30 different models, he’s certainly got plenty to choose from. Tenor, bass, valve, alto — you name it, he plays it.

John performs with various bands across the North West, and we’re lucky to have his talent, reliability, and big-hearted enthusiasm in Play It Forward.

Adrian Woodhead – Drums

Adrian Woodhead is the driving heartbeat of Play It Forward — a cracking kit drummer with rock-solid timing, big energy, and the ability to lift the whole band the moment he starts playing. He’s our very own version of Animal from The Muppets… just slightly more house-trained.

By day, Adrian is a joiner, which probably explains why he hits everything with equal precision and enthusiasm. Whether he’s keeping us tight, kicking us forward, or adding that extra spark to a lively number, he’s an essential part of the group’s sound and spirit.

Reliable, musical, and always up for a laugh, Adrian rounds out the band perfectly.