Eb Bass- Mike Lampitt

Mike started to play the cornet at the age of 13 in the Banbury Salvation Army Band under the tuition of bandmaster Harold Bucke and cornet player Dick Redford. After 18 months Mike moved onto the Eb bass and has remained there ever since. Six years later Mike moved to the Coventry City Salvation Army Band, and two years later accepted an invitation to join City of Coventry Band in the Championship Section., and here, fell under the influence of their highly respected conductor, band trainer and adjudicator, Mr Albert Chappel. Mike also took lessons from bass player John Moss, the tuba player with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
Between 1981 and 1986 the City of Coventry Band qualified for the National Finals (Championship Section) on 5 occassions, also winning the British Open Championships in 1981 and finishing 4th in 1983 on Connotations.
Because of the increased demands of his employment as a director of a PLC, Mike took a 13 year break from banding, and during this period moved to the North West.
In 1998 Mike joined the Rainford Band, then moved to Skelmersdale Prize Band, and again, returned to Rainford Band. From time to time Mike also played with the Moston and Beswick Band.
A chance meeting with Kevin Gibbs resulted in Mike joining Flixton.
Mike has enjoyed tuition, friendship and great fun with many people in brass band world but his greatest and most significant influence came from that musical 'gentleman' and mentor, Mr Albert Chappel.