*
banner

The oldest average tuba team in the UK?

Could these likely lads have the oldest average age (not playing ability) of any tuba team in the First Section in the UK.

Markham and District
  The four players have an average age of 68!

Markham & District Band from South Wales took to the stage at the National Eisteddfod of Wales with a tuba section that had an average age of 68 years and counting.

Experience

Without giving their exact ages away they did reveal the date that they first started playing, with Chris Powell with Markham in 1963, Dai Parker (Celynen Collieries in 1965) Hugh Coombs (Oakdale Silver in 1970) and Andy Russell (Irwell Forge 1969).

Teenagers

A spokesperson for the band said. "Amazingly they still all act as if they were teenagers. They are a great team — and what a fantastic amount of experience they have notched up.

We would be surprised to learn if there is a tuba section in the UK with a higher average age!"

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Elgar Festival

Elgar Festival offers packed day of elite performers

June 7 • If you are anywhere near Birmingham today then why not enjoy a packed day of elite level brass band performers.


Carlton Main

Results: 2026 French Open Championships

June 7 • Carlton Main Frickley leads the prize winners in Amboise at the 30th French Open Championship


Kingdom Brass

Result: 2026 Clans vs Counties

June 6 • Kingdom Brass becomes the first cross border title holder at a brand new entertainment contest in Northumberland.


Andrew McMillan

Interview with Andrew McMillan

June 6 • In the first of a new short interview series, we speak to the Scottish tenor horn star Andrew McMillan following the release of his inventive new CD, 'Time Pieces'


Fulham Brass Band - Summer Concert

Friday 5 June • St Dionis Church, Parsons Green SW6 4UH


Yorkshire Imperial - Roger Webster & The Colne Valley Male Voice Choir

Saturday 6 June • St George's Hall, Bridge Street, Bradford BD1 1JT


Ascot Brass - Vanguard Quartet from "Royal Harmonics"

Saturday 6 June • St Michael and All Angels Church St Michaels Green, Grenfell Road Beaconsfield HP9 2BP


Sherborne Town Band - Friends

Sunday 7 June • Sherborne, Dorset-Pageant Gardens DT9 3NP


Regent Hall Concerts - Take 5 Brass Quintet

Friday 12 June • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Crewe Brass

June 5 • Crewe Brass are looking for PERCUSSION PLAYERS (TUNED and KIT) to join our highly motivated 4th section band. We are a very welcoming and sociable band, with a positive outlook and a reasonably busy calendar of engagements. Other enquiries are welcome.


Glossop Old Band

June 5 • Our friendly second section band are looking for a BB bass player to join us for contests, concerts and exciting new projects. Glossop Old Band is situated between Manchester and Sheffield and rich in history


Dodworth Colliery MW Brass Band

June 4 • BACK ROW CORNET 2nd/3rd cornet. . NEMBBA contest entered for 15 November. LBBA contest entered for 22 November. . Concert schedule planned in advance. Planned breaks .


Andreas Kratz

Mus.B (hons)
Conductor, Adjudicator, Teacher


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd