Flixton Band

Mark learnt to play the trombone at the age of 13 when no woodwind instruments were available at school. Six months later he joined the Mainsforth Colliery (now Ferryhill Town) band in County Durham where he comes from and with whom he meets up on Durham gala day every year. He also played with Spennymoor Town and Bearpark and Esh bands in the area.

Mark spent many years studying and played for Cottingham Band whilst studying at Hull University and Monktonhall Colliery whilst at Edinburgh University where he obtained a PhD degree. He has been employed in the nuclear industry for around 16 years and played with Flimby Saxhorn band whilst working in West Cumbria. Mark returned to Flixton band in 2007 after playing with Bolton (Hoover) band for six years during a time when they came second and first in consecutive years at the National Championships. Despite playing for many years, Mark dislikes playing in contests with all the hanging around and then the tension when you do finally play.

Mark Willans

Nov 2007 - present

Mark's most memorable
banding moment:

"Oversleeping and missing the band bus at Haymarket station in Edinburgh (after a few too many Heavies down the Grassmarket) and having to find his own way by train to Motherwell for the Scottish areas. He rushed into the contest hall, just as the band was coming on to the stage and went on from the front borrowing a trombone from the next band that were due on; he was out of breath and rather agitated for the first third of the piece. Thanks Campbeltown !!! Fortunately, the good people of Monktonhall Colliery had a sense of humour".