Solo Baritone- Paul Thomason

Paul began banding in 1971 whilst at School and joined the School Band on Eb Bass. He also played for the Warrington Junior Band and in 1975 he was promoted to the Senior Band. Paul had the opportunity to move onto Baritone in 1978. He was a member of the Cheshire County Youth Brass Band from 1973 until 1978. During the Christmas Holidays the CCYBB held an annual course for 4 days where eminent figures from the Brass Banding world would work with the band and conduct them at major concerts in the Winsford/Northwich areas. The courses have been taken by Geoffrey Whitham, Geoffrey Brand. Eric Ball and James Scott to name a few. Whilst with the CCYBB, Paul travelled to Germany in 1975, Denmark in 1977 and America in 1980. Whilst in America the band played at the Rockefeller Centre in New York and the JF Kennedy Centre for Arts in Washington. Paul was also invited to attend a European Brass Band course in Denmark in 1979 where he played Solo Baritone alongside Nick Childs who was playing Solo Euphonium. Paul played for Warburtons Bakery Band from 1978 until 1982. During that time the band qualified for the National Final on two occasions in 1980 and 1981. In 1982 he joined Greenhalls Brewery Band and played with them until 1986 under the baton of John Hudson. Paul, who is a bank manager, was promoted and moved to Cumbria. He then joined Flimby Saxhorn Silver Band until 1991. In 1987 Paul once again had the opportunity to play at the Nationals Finals. In 1991 Paul returned to the North West and rejoined Greenhalls Band until May 1992 when he transferred to Flixton.