| Biography | Norman Ashcroft was the former Principal Cornet of the Fairey Band. He was regarded as e of the foremost cornet players of his generation, a former bandsman with the National Youth Brass Band and a number of Championship Bands in the North West for 30 years from 1964 to 1994.
Norman began his playing days on tenor horn, but then flugel, before moving to the principal cornet seat with the Harton Colliery Band.
In 1947 he joined the Carl Rosa Opera Company, having gained considerable experience playing trumpet with local orchestras and Bach Societies in North England in performances such as Handels Messiah. He eventually went on to play with just about every major orchestra in the country and particularly with the Halle Orchestra under the admiring eye of Sir Malcolm Sergeant.
In 1950 he joined Fairey as principal cornet and a wonderful brass band career ensued a career that was admired and rewarded at every level by audiences, amateur players and professionals around the world, until he stepped down in 1967.
Following his playing career he took up the baton with success. In 1959 he had become the conductor of the Mirrlees Works Band, leading them from the Third Section to Championship status, a feat he repeated with the Rochdale Band, who he started conducting in 1966. In 1972 he was awarded the Insignia of Honour at the Royal Albert Hall, where he contribution to the banding movement was acknowledged. |