Euan Barr

I played the French Horn starting in 3rd Youth Orchestra in 1991 and finishing as principle horn in the Youth Orchestra in 1997. I also played in the Youth Opera and Chamber Orchestra. I have very many happy memories of the courses, the friends I made (and still have) and the music I had the opportunity to play, particularly the tours to Cyprus and Budapest and the chance to play the Albert Hall on my 18th birthday!

After leaving I finished my studies at Imperial College and the RCM and went to live in Bristol where I played for the Bristol Brass Consort and New Bristol Sinfonia before I moved to Toulouse in the south of France where I now live with my fiancee Lisa and work for Airbus.

Sadly I haven't played in over two years now, but I still fondly remember all the great times playing with the orchestras and operas and in particular all the conductors, tutors and long suffering course managers that made it such a fantastic experience.

Updated: August 2007

Jeremy Benson

I started playing the violin at Bedford Saturday Morning Music School and the Fourth Orchestra in the mid 1980s, and ended up spending four years up to 1995 in the Youth Orchestra, having switched to double-bass somewhere along the way. I got a huge amount out of the youth music system, and have many happy memories; highlights include two Albert Hall concerts, three trips abroad (including a freebie to Tuscany with the Chamber Orchestra), and Guy's stool collapsing in the middle of the rehearsal at Challney in 1991. I still listen to a lot of music, though my job has nothing to do with it: I'm a civil servant at the DfES, but am spending 2003 on secondment to the Leicester branch of De Montfort Uni, working on "special projects".

Neil Brown

Ex-Leader of the County Youth Orchestra (member 1978 - 86). Spent a while playing quite seriously in and around Bristol after University, together with conducting various amateur orchestras.

My peers include Andrea Quinn, Morven Byrce, Andrew Manze, Michael and David Hext, Rachel Gledhill, Chris Yates, Heskeths (x2), Diane and Helen Cass, even Marios Agirios and Tina Fedeski (early years!). Trips abroad include Paris (x2), Italy (Perugia), Cyprus (x2), Bamberg.

Now to my shame I find myself an IT Solutions Architect, and ex-Violinist, splitting any available time equally (honest!) between family and golf. Emigrated to New Zealand 4 years ago, married to Jane (cellist) with two beautiful daughters.

I remember with huge fondness those years and the many great times we all shared. For those who didn't quite make it into the profession like myelf, there will always be a sense of a missed opportunity perhaps. But there is great solace in the memories of that time. Certainly my wife who grew up in a different county is hugely jealous of the opportunity I was afforded. I loved every single moment of my time in BYCO - and have nothing but admiration and thanks for the staff that kept the whole thing fun and excellent at the same time.

Maybe when the golf bug leaves me, Ill write a book....

Paul Burnage

I played in both concert bands and youth Brass band until about 1986 when I joined the police in London. I'm still playing the bass trombone with a local band, after some expert tuition from Terry Hext. Currently living in Hertforshire, married with two children, reached the dizzy heights of Inspector, but that's work.

Updated: March 2009

William Douglas

Attended Saturday morning music school from 1980 onwards and was in the county band from around 1982 to 1985 (trumpet/cornet), I remember going to Germany in 1985 and have fond (ish) memories of a monumental wigging from Ralph Fawthrop who threatened to send myself and Anthony Litchfield back to Bedford mid-tour after a particularly anti-social underage drinking session. Am now a lawyer with a well known US investment bank, working in the City and living in Oxfordshire with my wife and two young daughters: no involvement with music at all nowadays.

Theo Gray

I started in 4th Orchestra around '85 after Mr Quinn suggested it while I was still at Icknield Lower; I still remember that day sat in the canteen during a Cello lesson probably with a big grin on my face! Came up through 3rd and eventually passed an audition into 2nd Orchestra, before failing to reply to a course invite '94ish and unfortunately not making it back after that.

Had some great times with the orchestras, including a very memorable trip to the Edinburgh Festival ('93), and great fun behind the scenes at the Corn Exchange on many other occasions over the years!

I don't get much of a chance to play my cello these days, but have done a number of fun things with various quartets/quintets (violin, viola, cello, clarinet & sometimes flute) in the last few years. I've also played keyboard and subsequently looked after sound for the Edlesbray Players pantomime - www.edlesbrayplayers.co.uk.

For full time work I was drawn into computers in 1995 (my main creative work being websites these days), and haven't been able to take the time out to try and break back into music properly since; I'd like to try an orchestra again, but have no idea where to start at the moment. I'm also gradually getting into the recording and production side of things, although that's all at a very amateur stage at the moment.

Anyone who wants to is very welcome to get in touch via www.theogray.com

Updated: October 2005

Paul Hopkins

I had the pleasure of playing trombone in the Beds Youth Orchestra with Michael Hext and Roy Turner from 1974 -1978. I am currently Principal Trombone in Hendon SA Band and rarely practice (nothing has changed there!).

I remember my Dad taking me to Michael Roses's house for the audition where I played Concert Piece (Michael accompanied me although my Dad, Ivan, was prepared in any event). I also remember many a sectional with Terry Hext.

I remember the trombone section commencing Walton's Belshazzar’s Feast, in fear a trepidation, at a charity concert held at the Albert Hall, the toughest concert B flat I have ever had to play. I loved the New Years concerts at the Bedford Corn Exchange; what great memories.

I have spent all my working life in property development, commencing as a Quantity Surveyor, and since 2002 have held the position of Managing Director of St James Urban Living based in Finchley. We are a subsidiary of The Berkeley Group (Berkeley Homes) and construct mixed use developments on Brownfield sites in the City. It's a great job and the people that work for me are the best in the industry.

Updated: June 2008

John Hoskins

At the time of writing some twenty years have passed since I last played in the double bass section of the County Youth Orchestra. For nineteen of those subsequent years a large part of my career has been involved with playing the piano for dance classes. Recently, I have been considering the ways in which my time in the youth orchestras has been of particular benefit to me.

At first, there may appear to be little in common between playing amongst the double basses in an orchestra and solo piano playing in a dance studio, but I have come to find that a lot of the techniques practised in orchestral rehearsals have proven to be enduringly useful in rehearsals with dancers.

For example, when playing classical ballet repertoire classes, either solos, pairs (pas de deux) or groups(corps de ballet), one has to sight-read, watch for changes of speed, and stop at and start from places in the middle of passages of music. Additionally, the speeds and qualities of the music might need altering from time to time. All these requirements can be expected immediately and the duration of some rehearsals or classes can be quite lengthy.

Recalling many of the orchestral rehearsals in both the First and Second County Youth Orchestras, similar demands were made of us. Previously, I had been fortunate enough to have gone to a school which had a number of good orchestras but these used to rehearse for brief periods in the lunch time, often playing shorter works of music. For me, the outstanding benefits that I experienced from my time in the youth orchestras were the practising of these musical demands within the context of large orchestral pieces, the high standards that were sought and, most particularly, the stamina needed to maintain concentration during these occasions.

My thanks must go especially to Michael Rose for his leadership in pursuit of the high musical standards, also the supporting staff, both visiting and local, and also to the County itself for having in place a system that enabled us to participate in the music both then and subsequently.

Bill Manton

Hi everyone.
I am now a specialist veterinary ophthalmologist and ophthalmic surgeon, practising near Chester. I played violin with BYO from about 1972 to 1980 and with BYCO until 1981 or 2 and was also briefly a BYCO committe member. I also played first violin with the Cambridge University (CUMS) orchestra. My contemporaries included, in no particular order, Catherine Shuttleworth, William Shaw, Robbie Bilson, the Heskeths, Jo and Alison Cole, Penny Deamer, Tom Groger, Nick Carthy, Helen Cass etc etc.

I have very clear and generally very fond, memories of my time with the orchestras which certainly included some of the most formative periods of my adolescence. Having played in both the Royal Albert and Royal Festival Halls by the time I was 18, with players who have subsequently proved themselves to be even more superb than I thought them to be at the time, and with guest conductors like Simon Rattle, meant that subsequent experiences of playing with amateur groups have been quite an anticlimax, and that fact, combined with the pressures of establishing myself in my chosen profession and starting a new family, led me to neglect the instrument for many years. However, I have recently rediscovered my enthusiasm for playing and have even started having lessons again, with the leader of Manchester Camerata (orchestra in residence at RNCM).

It would be great to hear from any of my contemporaries (not limited to those whose names occurred to me as I was writing this), especially any who are based in the North West. My E-mail address is "[email protected]"

Updated: February 2008

Ken Meade

Some of the names on here are a real blast from the past ! I played trumpet in the Bedfordshire Youth Orchestra, cornet in the Bedford Concert Band, and Bedford town band at the same time as Mike Hext who was a close friend, later David, Andy Culshaw, Roy, Lawrence and many others.

Originally tutored by Terry Hext and then Doug Taylor (how he managed to play trumpet with one tooth I'll never know), and went on amongst others the same European binges (I mean music trips) as Roy.

Went off to Leicester to do maths and music in about "78" and joined the William Davis Construction group band playing solo (sub principal) cornet under John Berryman (prev.GUS). Left the band before I left university after illness which prevented me from playing for a year and never really took it up again (other interests).

Chose IT as a career and am now a networking consultant. Took up elec guitar and formed a band for a while in the 90's playing blues/Jazz, but now relegated to bedroom !

Would also like to acknowledge Ralph "the mouth" Fawthrop who I don't see mentioned, but was the bursar at Pilgrim Grammar School, and also the organizer of almost all of the foreign trips we all went on. He may have been a pain at times, but he was responsible for great European experience for many young musicians in Bedford during the 70's in addition to running the Bedford Town band with Terry Hext.

Updated: May 2008

Andrew Osborne

Now living in Teddington and playing horn with Kingston Philharmonia. Also playing with the Rehearsal Orchestra on occasions. My son has recently joined the Bedfordshire Youth Orchestra (playing horn) after a few years working his way through 3rd and 2nd Orchestras.

John Peacock

I played clarinet in the wind band 1970-73 then the youth orchestra from 1973-77, leaving after the concert in the Albert Hall. I've never forgotten Duncan Gould's wonderful clarinet playing, and have tried to live up to the standards he set, first as principal of the Cambridge University Chamber Orchestra, and for the past 20 years in Edinburgh as principal of the Scottish Sinfonia. I've always been hugely grateful to Bedfordshire for opening the door to these great experiences. Oh yes, and I pay the bills by being an astrophysicist at Edinburgh University.

Tim Pigden

Bassoon in mid- to late 70s (started in band then orchestra and chamber orchestra). Did maths then music at Cambridge before going to Imperial College for a few years. Since then in the rather obscure software niche of Vehicle Routing and Scheduling software where I co-founded in '88 and have been running ever since a small software company called Optrak.

Youth Orchestra provided me with some of my most memorable times of my teenage years including being described as sounding like one half of a pair of mating hippos - whilst playing contra in Rite of Spring.

Still playing the bassoon in and around Hertford and recently debuted in a rock band on alto sax. Hello everyone! Happy husband and father to 3 boys, oldest of which is just off to Durham.

Updated: September 2009

Mr Pollard

I was leader of the youth orchestra in the early 1970's, taught the strings for a couple of years and helped found the BYCO. I led the Bedford Sinfonia for a couple of years. I have lived and worked in Asia since 1990. I no longer play. Pleased to hear from any past pupils, friends and colleagues.

William Shaw

I played in BCYO and the Chamber Orchestra in the 1970s, starting off when Charles Pollard was leader. I ran into Manze when he was at Cambridge and heard Jo Cole at Balliol a few years ago. Managed a dinner with John Peacock last year. I am now a Professor of Maths at University College London. This and two young children keep me rather too busy for a lot of music these days, but my son has just got Grade 1 piano and got a violin, so I hope he will follow the family musical tradition.

Beds youth music was a GREAT part of my teenage years and I will always be grateful for it all. The IFYO at Aberdeen, a trip to Vienna and Albert Hall performances have stuck in my memory, as has the look on Michael Rose's face when I explained I could not follow the er, circular beat when leading the 2nd violins. A young Simon Rattle telling the teenage cellists in BYCO to imagine a certain intimacy with their instruments was a highlight as well.

If anyone wants to say hello mail me at [email protected].

Updated: February 2011

Eugene Smith

Member of the Youth Orchestra during the late 80's and early 90's playing the viola. Remembers several of the tours, including Spain, Edinburgh, Cyprus and Russia, where they visited Moscow & Leningrad. Currently employed as a lecturer at the Metropolitan Police College in Hendon. Would look forward to hearing from any of his compatriots from his time in the orchestra system.

Harvey Smith

In the County Youth Orchestra (?)1981 - 1986. Remember Paris/Bamburg/Bristol John Shayler, Simon Manze, Alistair Green (deceased), D Boyes, V Snowden and the Barlems.

Best moment:  Mahler 5 in Bamberg.
Worst moment: Being asked to leave by M Rose!

Now a consultant dermatologist in Winchester after 16 years in Army. Married with 2 daughters.

Mark Tanser

I'm not in the music industry ... I'm in the IT industry...

I started off playing Tenor Horn in the 2nd Concert Band on the Easter Course in 1982 (along with my sister). My last Concert was with the Concert Band in Summer 1985 under Denis Wick (I think) by which time I was playing cornet. Played at Wembley Conference Centre under Geoffrey Brand, and visited Germany with the band in 1985 (under Terry Hext and Jim Hibbert). Moved to Leicestershire in 1985 so that's when it all finished although I still play for a local Brass Band.

Liam Watson

Played violin in 3rd orchestra 1982/83 for a few courses. Now work for an insurance company in London.

Dave Yates

Having been the bane of Michael Rose's life for a couple of years (in stark contrast to my more-talented and better-behaved brother), I read law at Oxford before taking a career in horseracing journalism.

Having worked for Timeform, the Press Association and the Racing Post, as well as radio and TV jobs, I became 'Newsboy' of the Daily Mirror in May 2002.

Although I no longer play the violin, I still enjoy music, singing as a lyric bass with various amateur groups in London.

I very much hope to be a full-time gambler within the next five years. But, then, don't we all?

Updated: May 2009