Life membership awards for trio of Clackmannan players

There have been three more Scottish Brass Band Association life memberships granted to Clackmannan District Band players.

Congratulations to Brian Hodge for completing more than half a century in banding and to Dorothy Hope and Debbie Ross on more than 40 years service to the brass community.

Brian started his brass journey in 1968 with the Raploch Salvation Army. He played with Falkirk and Stirling Youth Band and the Central Regional Youth Brass Band. In the late 1970s he attended National Youth Brass Band of Scotland (NYBBS) courses with both the Reserve and Senior bands.

He joined Alva Town Band in 1975, moving some 20 years later to Kelty and Blairadam Band. He was one of the founder members of the newly-established Kingdom Brass where he stayed before transferring to Clackmannan.

Dorothy (Dot) began playing in 1975 and became a member of Tayport Instrumental. After a spell down south, where she played with Shirley Band in Birmingham, she returned to Tayport and supported her children in the Clackmannan District Brass Ensemble. As a member of the senior band, she is always willing to offer help and support wherever it is required.

Band president Debbie Ross started her brass career in 1982, playing with Alloa Academy band and progressing to the Clackmannan District Youth Band and Alloa Burgh’s junior band. On the merger of Alloa Burgh and Alva Town bands into the now Clackmannan District Band in 1991, she played cornet and baritone before her current instrument, the euphonium. She has been a full-time member of the senior band since 2009.