The people behind the music

The KNDS Fairey Band is made up of top-quality musicians. Whilst some of our players play professionally, the majority of our players are amateur music makers. Historically, when the band started, almost all of our players worked in the Williams Fairey Engineering Factory and outside of work hours players dedicated a significant amount of time to the band and rehearsing. Although times have changed, the passion and enjoyment for playing in the band and making music has not. We rehearse twice a week on the grounds of WFEL in Heaton Chapel, Stockport and this passion brings our players together with the aim of making music to a high level, interacting musically with our audiences and continuing to represent the world famous Fairey band.

Musical Director - Phil Chalk

Phil Chalk’s journey to becoming a leader in children’s animation is marked by an extraordinary blend of musical talent and engineering expertise. Starting as a trumpet prodigy traveling the globe with the renowned Fairey Band, Chalk honed his skills in both music and technical disciplines. Despite a challenging upbringing in Oldham, where his father ran a meat manufacturing business, Chalk showed exceptional promise early on, reaching the semi-finals of the BBC Young Musician of the Year at just 14.

After an engineering apprenticeship, Chalk transitioned into a successful career in technical sales and management roles, even founding a nuclear components distribution business, Lintran. His entrepreneurial spirit emerged as he diversified into the entertainment industry, providing sophisticated engineering solutions for the popular TV show Gladiators. However, it was the animation sector that ultimately captured his passion.

In 2001, Chalk’s idea for an animated show called Notezart led him to establish a place for himself in animation by helping Cosgrove Hall create a new digital division. His network expanded when he collaborated with Keith Chapman, creator of Bob the Builder, to produce Roary the Racing Car. Despite initial success, the recession hit hard, leading to the collapse of the Chapman studio. However, Chalk turned this setback into an opportunity by acquiring the assets of a failed post-production company, Hullabaloo.

This pivotal moment led to a significant partnership with the BBC on Strange Hill High, a show that not only achieved critical acclaim but also showcased Chalk’s innovative technique known as “hypervynorama.” Factory Transmedia, his Altrincham-based company, thrived under this project, rapidly expanding its portfolio to include other hits like Clangers and Scream Street.

Today, Factory Transmedia is on a remarkable growth trajectory, with anticipated revenues of around £4 million and a significant increase in staff. Chalk’s focus remains on creating high-quality content and investing in innovation rather than fixating on exit strategies. With an optimistic yet pragmatic approach, he aims to develop a legacy of world-class shows that secure the long-term future of his business.

Chalk’s unique background combines a creative vision with technical insight, positioning him as a trailblazer in the animation landscape which adapts perfectly to the Fairey Band’s pursuit of pushing the ‘brass band’ boundaries. 

Our Musicians

Iain Culross
Principal Cornet

Originally from Dundee in Scotland, Iain holds a B.A. (Hons) degree in Music and an MA in Music Performance from the University of Salford and has travelled internationally as a soloist, conductor, and clinician, as well as having served as a tutor for the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland, the National Youth Brass Band of Wales, and the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain. 

Iain returned as principal cornet of the Fairey Band in late 2023 following a highly successful tenure with the band in 2010-2011, having previously been principal cornet with Grimethorpe Colliery Band, Leyland Band, Sellers International Band, YBS/Hammonds Band, and Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band. Iain is also a former member and principal cornet of the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland (NYBBS). 

In 2012 Iain released his debut solo album “Vanguard” to great critical acclaim, and followed this up in early 2023 with his latest album “The Recital Series Volume One: Classics” – the first in a series of collaborative albums with renowned conductor and pianist, Howard Evans, which has also been met with critical acclaim.

Iain Culross - Principal Cornet

Jimmy Leggat
3rd Cornet

Jimmy is one of our longest serving members having joined the band in 1983. He started learning to play the cornet in his hometown of Whitburn at the age of 11 and in 1970 he became a member of the Whitburn Band. In the seven and a half years he was at the band, he progressively moved up the ranks to assistant principal cornet. Jimmy then joined Clydebank Burgh Band on principal cornet for 18 months before joining Foden’s Motor Works band on the front row for a year, then on to Repiano for the second year.

Jimmy left Foden’s in 1981 to join the Brighouse & Rastrick Band, who were National Champions at the time.  He enjoyed two great years with ‘Briggus’ before finding his spiritual home across the Pennines joining the World Famous Fairey Band where he has now become part of the furniture.

Jimmy is one of only three members of the current band who at some point have worked for the Fairey Engineering Company and is an integral part of the band not only as a valued member of the cornet section but also as the band’s very busy librarian.

Victoria Lundberg 
Second Horn

Vickie hails from Swaledale in North Yorkshire and started playing tenor horn when her father encouraged her and her two sisters to join the two local bands, Muker Silver and Reeth Brass Band. Although brass was her main instrumental passion growing up, Vickie is a multi-instrumentalist having gained grade 8 on tenor horn, French horn, recorder and saxophone before she left school. Her interest in the French horn developed when given the opportunity to play in the wind band and orchestra at school and she eventually went on to study the French horn and tenor Horn at the University of Huddersfield. During this time, she played for the Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band and Pennine Brass before moving across the Pennines to study for a Masters in music performance at the Royal Northern College of Music, under the guidance of French horn virtuoso Frank Lloyd.

Vickie is passionate about music education and is currently Assistant Head of Performing Arts at Cheadle Hulme High School. After several years of focusing on French Horn following completion of her studies, she returned to the tenor horn when invited to join the Fairey Band in 2012. With Rebecca joining the band a few months later, the appointment has seen both sisters once again playing in the same band several years after starting together in the local bands in the Dales, an experience that Vickie says has made playing for the world famous Fairey Band even more special!

Ciaran Young
Solo Baritone

Originally from Northern IrelandCiaran began playing euphonium with Bangor Salvation Army. Through his teenage years he was also a member of County Down’s Youth Wind band, the Laganvale Band, the NI Youth Brass Band as well as being the first player to represent Northern Ireland in the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain. Before leaving school, he gained an ATCL diploma in performance on euphonium.

Following a move to England to attend the RNCM, Ciaran enjoyed his first stint on baritone with Desford Colliery and then the Black Dyke Band. Ciaran moved to Lincolnshire where he was quickly snapped up by the Ransomes Band and has since played Principal Euphonium for Thoresby Colliery and Carlton Main Frickley Colliery, along with professional work with the Ulster Orchestra and the Yorkshire Wind Orchestra. When at Carlton Main, he decided to make the switch to Solo Baritone which raised the interest of Brighouse & Rastrick, to whom he joined for a successful 10 year period, winning three National titles and represented England at the European Championships on two occasions.

Fairey Band Personnel

Cornets: 
Iain Culross (Principal)
James Atkins
Brian Taylor
Martin Davis
Matthew Hall (Soprano)
Sam Ball (Repiano)
Claire Chalk
Sion Thomas
Jonathan Smith
Jimmy Leggat 

Flugel and horns
Pete Shaw (Flugal)
Emma Conway (Solo Horn)
James Parkinson
Victoria Lundberg

Euphoniums and Baritones
Peter McDonough
Phil Bracegirdle
Ciaran Young
Calum Lee Macdonald

Trombones
Rebecca Lundberg
Tom Peacock
Tony Robertson
Josh Cargill (Emeritus)

Basses
Ben Russon
Stephen Parfitt
Jonny Shaw
Sam Pearson

Percussion
Beth Cordall
Ian Bowd
Dom Ritchie
Chas Roughley