Meet the hard-working committee of the Littlehampton Concert Band. There is a picture and little bit of info about the people who do so much behind the scenes and run the band.
Bob Haselip - Musical Director
Bob Haselip has been directing the Littlehampton Concert Band since October 2003 and this is his first role as musical director of a concert band. He took over the band at only 24 years old having already had a long musical career with having studied music all his life. He originally joined the Littlehampton Concert Band when he was 11 years old and just starting the flute. He left the band after about 5 years to pursue other musical activities gaining valuable experience with other bands and ensembles. Bob has now come full circle and is enjoying the challenge of developing the band he first started with.
As well as the Littlehampton Concert Band, Bob occasionally directs stage shows plus he regularly plays flute and piccolo with a number of other musical groups including the Littlehampton Players Operatic Society and the Worthing Philharmonic Orchestra. He is also a pianist and keen arranger having produced a lot of music for local amateur stage shows and some exclusive arrangements for the concert band as well.
Bob has always been a keen promoter of youth music having won awards at a number of local competitions himself, including awards from the Arun Young Musician of the Year competition. Now he is often the other side of the desk adjudicating similar competitions and festivals.
Contact Bob by emailing maestro@littlehampton-concertband.co.uk
John Wyatt - Chairman
The Chairman of the Band, Dr John Wyatt, fulfilled an ambition when he retired from being Director of West Sussex Institute (now University College Chichester). He tried to learn to play a musical instrument, the tenor saxophone. Joining the Littlehampton Concert Band, about four years ago as a very raw recruit, turned out to be a great experience. As well as providing good companionship, the band, through its experienced players, helped John to understand all kinds of music. As Chairman, his ambition is to make the band better known as a centre of community music for young and old alike.
Contact John by emailing governor@littlehampton-concertband.co.uk
Jill Wellman - Secretary
Jill Wellman took up the clarinet in her late 50’s as a relaxing antidote to a busy career with an IT company. On retirement just over a year ago she was delighted to discover that Littlehampton Concert Band accepts players with minimal expertise, and that learning to make music with so many talented people is enormously helpful and great fun. As secretary Jill enjoys being involved with the committee in organising and promoting the band.
Hazel Haselip - Treasurer
Hazel Haselip began her musical career at school and pursued her talent through the Women's Royal Army Corps. She has played with a host of local bands and orchestras giving her a wealth of experience - ideal for leading the Clarinet section of the band. As a qualified book-keeper, Hazel is also the perfect person to keep the band's accounts in order.
John Haselip - Librarian
John Haselip's musical career is the stuff of legend having taught himself clarinet at a very early age. He took his talent into the Army during conscription, joining the 10th Royal Hussars and it was here that he learned to play the saxophone - a skill which later proved to be a valuable earner. It was not long before John found the world of Jazz and Big Band music and made a name for himself playing with some of the top performers in the country. In the Littlehampton Band, John was the librarian for a number of years before leaving the band but having now re-joined, has taken it back under his wing.
Peter Laverick
Educated at Salisbury Cathedral School and Canford School, 2 great musical establishments where I played the piano badly. I then abandoned performance for 25 years until I joined Arun Choral Society where I was impressed by the brass musicians ability to sight read for the concert. When my children joined the Littlehampton Band in about 1990 I got so excited that I bought a trumpet so I could join in and I tried to teach myself how to play it. I then resigned from the Choral Society and after a couple of years saw a Tuba for sale and decided that that was the instrument for me. At one time there were 4 Tuba players in the band and somehow I have outlasted them all.
Elaine Laverick - Publicity Officer
Elaine has always been a hard working and enthusiastic member of the band and she brings to the committee that same commitment and energy. Recently Elaine has taken over the role of publicity officer to promote and enhance the band's reputation.
Contact Elaine by sending an email to publicity@littlehampton-concertband.co.uk
Nicky Morris and Gill Howell - Social Secretary
Since joining the band, Nicky and Gill have had a tremendous impact on the social side of the band. They spend their committee time organising fun, exciting and sometimes rather outrageous social events which are always really popular.
Contact Nicky and Gill by emailing social@littlehampton-concertband.co.uk
Laura King
Laura King has been playing with the band as a clarinettist for a number of years and is currently studying for a Masters Degree in Music at Chichester University. As well as the clarinet, Laura can also turn her hand to the flute, piccolo, saxophone, piano, guitar, and even conducting, making her ideal to play in the orchestra pit for stage shows which she does regularly. On top of her studying, Laura is also a peripatetic teacher, specialising in adult tuition.
Sue Alcock
Sue has been a regular "guest" at our committee meetings for a while before she finally succumb to becoming a full time committee member. She brings an extraordinary talent for fundraising as well as playing the clarinet, plus is our connection to the Arun Young Musician of the Year festival.
Tim Pickering - Youth Representative
As one of the younger members of the band, Tim has joined the committee to represent the viewpoints of our under 18s. He's a talented saxophonist and as a committee member, has an impeccable logic when putting his points across.