2nd Cornet - Ian Townsley

Ian started to play the Cornet aged 15 and joined the Oldham Youth Band. His father played Principal Cornet for the famous Oldham Rifles Band (ORB) and encouraged Ian, along with the band's conductor, Gordon Lawson. Ian then joined Besses Band on 3rd Cornet prior to joining Wingates on Repiano. He was the youngest player in the band and remembers having to sit on the coach with a packet of crisps and a bottle of pop whilst everyone else was in the pub! Later Ian joined the Mossley Band on Tutti Cornet but sadly gave Cornet playing a rest for many years at Salford University and to further his career. Following a long break from playing (approx 20 years!) he rejoined the Mossley Band before taking the principal seat with the Chadderton Band. Ian then moved to Flixton. Recently he has played in concerts for Yorkshire Coop Band and at Charity Brass (a scratch band put together by some of the top players in the country). Charity Brass have raised lots of money for good charities and continue to do so.
Ian is in the business of Theatre lighting and sound he owns his own business 'Ian Scott Systems' although his greatest passion is in aviation having 22 years service for British Airways. Ian attained his wings at 24 and holds both commercial pilots and aerobatics licenses.

Ian is also the Concert Secretary for the band.