Annette Spokes-Ellis
Instrument: tuba
Date joined: March 2018
Previous bands: Pendeen Silver Band 1984-1994, Ipswich Band 1998-1999, Somersham Town Band 2000-2003, Cawston Band 2003-2008, Norfolk Brass 2010-2012, Cawston Band 2013-2018

I started playing in November 1983 when the school secretary (who was also the band secretary) asked if I would like to learn an instrument. I started on cornet but the mouthpiece was too small, so I moved to tenor horn in January 1984.  Two months later I joined the main band on 2nd horn. In the next 4 years I played 2nd horn, 2nd baritone, flugelhorn and 1st baritone. At 14, I decided I wanted to learn to play the trombone, initially on a G trombone, before moving to tenor trombone. I played with Penzance Youth Wind Band and Cornwall Youth Brass Band during this time too. Somewhere along the line after moving away from Cornwall, I started playing tuba too, mixing between trombone and tuba, which ever was needed. 

Outside of band I have been married to Darren since 2017, we moved from rural Norfolk to Lancashire in March 2018. Most Saturday’s you will find me plodding round Towneley Park in Burnley at parkrun, I am aiming to take part in my first half marathon later in 2019. I have been a brownie guider for around 15 years. I also play the church organ very badly.