Bryan Norman

Bryan was our Principal Euphonium in the band and is a founder member, moving away in 2012 to be closer to family members.

Bryan was brought up in the Methodist Church at Knottingley in West Yorkshire but at 14 years of age the family joined the Salvation Army.

Bryan started playing at 14 and joined the Senior Band at 15 years of age. After completing National Service, he married Sylvia, also a member of the Corps at Knottingley Salvation Army. While at Knottingley he was commissioned YP Band Leader and later Songster Leader.

A move to the East Midlands took place in 1971, working in Coventry but soldiering at Hinckley Corps in Leicestershire. He was commissioned as Songster Leader in 1972 and spent 6 happy years there, but a move became inevitable because of work and the family moved further South to Hampshire taking up residence near Alton and soldiering at Alton Corps.

Bryan was employed in the field of Commercial Credit, primarily in the manufacture of earth moving plant for the construction industry.

Bryan was commissioned Deputy Bandmaster in 1979, a position he held for 11 years, after which he took on the responsibility for the band after the existing
bandmaster moved away. Bryan held this position for some 5 years and then retired from Corps banding though continued being an active member of the Alton Corps. At that time he joined what was then the newly formed Solent Fellowship
Band.

Bryan is married with two children who now have their own families, and the brass tradition is being carried on by his son Andrew, who is a noted trombonist in outside band circles, and a granddaughter who plays the cornet!

Bryan feels very privileged to have been able to enjoy a lifetime of banding and still get great pleasure from playing. The benefit of being part
of a full ensemble, coupled with the availability and choice of music this provides, further added to the satisfaction of being part of the Fellowship Band.

Bryan retired from playing with the band when moving to a different part of the country to be nearer the children and grandchildren. He is now a lifetime honorary member of The Fellowship Band.