Mike Stubbings

Mike was a member of the cornet sections front bench, and proud of his heritage as a fourth generation Salvationist who recently passed 50 years as a Soldier and Bandsman. He first became inspired by Army music making at the age of 15 when playing “Themes from the Italian Symphony” in the A band at Tylney Hall National School of Music, under the leadership of Colonel Norman Bearcroft. Recently he has 'converted' to bass and now plays EEb bass in our band. Quite a change from cornet!

Growing up in the Ringwood Corps in the New Forest, where his father was the Bandmaster, he moved to London and joined the Chalk Farm Corps after a short spell at Redhill. He was privileged to go on the 1967 tour of Europe with the CFB when the band was invited to meet Pope John Paul at the Vatican. The strains of “Invincible Army” were heard as the band marched across St Peter’s Square, and then played and sang the Founder’s song in the Benedictine Chapel.

A few years at Oxford Corps followed before a move to Norwich. Mike and his family were members of Norwich Citadel Corps for 18 years, during which the NCB visited the USA, Canada, Norway, South Africa and Scotland. The band maintained a very high standard of deportment and musicianship, having a talented group of corner men and highly disciplined leadership. He was a local officer for 15 of those years, including 6 years as the Corps Secretary.

During 1996 Mike moved to the Southern Division to work as the Divisional Director for Social Work, following a long career in local authority social services. At this time he and his wife soldiered at Winton and then the new Corps at Verwood where he was the Corps Sergeant Major. These days he soldiers with his wife Jean at Southsea Corps.

For the past five years Mike has been a member of the Southsea Corps with his wife, Jean, who incidentally manages the Booth Centre in Southampton. He is the Corps Secretary at Southsea and currently works as a representative for Kettering Textiles and SATCOL.