Stephen Cann

Solo Trombone

Steve started playing trombone at school, aged 11. His mum says that she let him start playing because she 'knew' he would give up after a couple of weeks! The school had a very good brass band and it provided a free loan instrument and free music lessons. After a couple of years, he had started playing with other bands and became particularly interested in big bands and brass bands.

Steve's first taste of brass bands was with Romford Band in the late 1970's. He later joined Tilbury Band, playing solo trombone for about 7 years. He also conducted the Tilbury 'B' Band for a while. There followed a stint with Newham Band in east London on bass trombone, with whom he competed at the Royal Albert Hall 'National Finals'. Soon after the Newham and Aveley bands merged, Steve took a break from playing in order to concentrate on his increasingly busy career as an accountant.

Ultimately, work and family commitments resulted in an eight year break from playing during which time he moved to Norfolk. Steve started playing again at the beginning of 2009, joining Norfolk Brass in January of that year.

He is married to Lisa, whom he met whilst playing with Tilbury Band. They have two children: Lucy and Christopher who are both learning to play brass instruments.

Steve's weapon of choice is a Rath R4F Bb/F tenor trombone, with a red brass bell, bronze slide and yellow brass tuning slide. The Rolls Royce of trombones!

Annette Winters

Second Trombone

Annette joined the band in May 2009 after a two year break from playing.

During her banding career, she has played with many brass bands and has played every instrument in the band other than soprano cornet. She also plays organ at her local church and arranges music in her spare time.

She is so pleased to be playing with Norfolk Brass that she rushes to band practice on a Tuesday evening directly from Brownies, where she is known as 'Snowy Owl'.

John Flack

Second Trombone

John started playing trombone as a child in the mid 1800's.

He played trombone in the Band of the Coldstream Guards for many years, some of which were spent alongside David Stowell, who was a euphonium player in the band at the time.

On retiring from the army, John moved to East Anglia with his wife and two sons. He works as a peripatetic music teacher in Suffolk.

He also plays in the Lowestoft symphony orchestra, and has also been seen to frequent the solo trombone seat of the Wrentham Band.

Robert Waterson

Bass Trombone

'Chainsaw' Waterson, was introduced to the trombone at the age of eleven where he was tutored at school and the Great Yarmouth Salvation Army citadel band by Charles King (jnr).

During the 1970's, Bob played in the Norfolk Schools Orchestra where he learned to read bass clef. After a period as principal trombone with the Wrentham Band, the opportunity to become bass trombone for the Drayton Band, conducted by Captain Clifford Pike in the mid 1980's, started the passion known only to bass trombonists. He subsequently spent a brief period a bass trombonist with the Skelmersdale Band, before taking up the bass trombonists seat with The Reepham Band, later to become Matthews Norfolk Brass, now recently re-named Norfolk Brass. Robert has played with the Band for over 15 years, with only occasional interruptions due to overseas work commitments.

Robert is an engineering draughtsman by profession. He likens the note of his trombone to the roar of his V8 sports cars - a three and a half litre MGBGT V8 classic, which he has recently restored.

Robert's trombone is an Edwards Bb, F and Gb, with two lovely Thayer valves. Her name..... Mrs Edwards!