Below is more information on the band's cornet players.
Soprano Cornet - Rose Fisher
Rose Fisher was a member of the Royal Air Force and first became associated with the band during her posting at St Athan in 1992. After settling in Rhoose, she was tempted back into the Band whilst she played in a contest as a maternity cover and has been a member of the band ever since. She has a long brass band membership list which reflects her roots in Northampton Town and Moulton ’77, her Airforce days with RAF Benson and also she has played for the Vale of Glamorgan Band amongst other bands around South Wales and she continues to play for Barry Brass Band.
Taking up the cornet at the age of 11 because she loved the school band, she always wanted to play Soprano Cornet – but someone should have mentioned the seat’s precarious position usually very close to the edge of the stage – her most embarrassing moment was actually falling off stage mid performance! Her highlight as part of RAF St Athan Voluntary Band was playing at the National Finals although she secretly adores playing in bandstands in the park.
Her hobbies include her pet rabbits and bidding on eBay – which also counts for her other interest of picture framing when she won an auction after bidding on an item to see how it was done!
Repiano Cornet
Katy Thomas
Katy Tho mas comes from Wrexham and has just completed her degree in Music at Cardiff University. She has played with RAF St Athan Voluntary Band since she was introduced to the band through fellow students. Katy has also played in Llangolloen Silver Band and is also a very accomplished pianist, in addition she admits to have previously played the trombone. She took up playing brass at the age of 9 because she wanted to get out of maths lessons and also because she enjoyed her piano lessons and wanted to try something new.
Her favourite type of band engagements are contests and her best experience so far at RAF St Athan Band happened when she agreed to have a crack at playing the tuned percussion parts for the Treorchy contest last year. Her most embarrassing moment was when she was playing in the University Orchestra and she got up and left the stage before the piece had finished - oops!
Katy is a true book worm and loves reading books, but also enjoys writing and art. When she's not practising or in the library she likes to go for walks.
2nd/ 3rd Cornets
Carly Griffith
Carly .jpg) Griffith is studying at Cardiff University for a joint honours degree in Maths and Music and has been playing with RAF St Athan Voluntary Band since the beginning of this year. She grew up in North Wales and played for Llanrug Band from the age of 11. Carly’s first language is Welsh and she is a great asset to the band especially for the live TV interviews at the Eisteddfod. She took up playing at school after an unsuccessful attempt at trying to produce a note on the flute she was sent next door to the trumpet teacher where she quite clearly got her buzz!
Carly plays solo cornet with the Cardiff University Brass Band where she enjoys the very sociable aspect of playing which usually includes an after rehearsal de-briefing session at the pub!
Carly’s favourite type of band engagements are contests although she certainly celebrated her birthday in some style last year for a whole weekend away with the band on tour to Scotland! A restaurant booking for 50 people with an all you can eat Chinese Buffet and entertainment provided by the helium singers for free! Her most embarrassing musical mishap was when playing for her County Band a whispered pianissimo chord came to an abrupt end when her mute fell out and bounced across the stage!
Matthew Robinson
 Matthew is currently studying for his A Levels at Llantwit Major Comprehensive School and has been associated with the band since he joined the Youth Band aged 7. Quickly proving that he had talent, Matthew joined the Backrow of the "Senior" Band at the tender age of 12 and is still the band's youngest cornet player although he hasn't stopped growing in confidence or height ever since, Matthew is well over 6 feet tall and has to duck his head to get into the rehearsal room! Matthew also plays the Piano and Saxophone and has Grade 5 theory, but his main aim at the moment is working towards his Grade 8 cornet.
Matthew took up playing the cornet after hearing the Last Post played on television and he liked the sound it made. He enjoys playing in St Athan Band because he likes the social aspect of playing exciting new pieces with other people. His favourite engagements are the contests because he enjoys the opportunity to hear other bands and he also finds the pieces a challenge to learn.
Matthew is a member of the Llantwit Surf Life Saving Club and he is training to become an athlete in Sprint Kayaking and has to carefully balance his time between watersports, band and of course his A-Levels, but with all that determination we are convinced that Matthew will one day gain International Honours. So then Matthew, how's the entry for the 2016 Olympics coming along?
Clive Adams
Clive is our newest cornet player and brings to the band a wealth of experience as he is an ex-service professional RAF musician. Clive joined the Royal Airforce music service "many moons ago" and found himself playing all over the world as part of the RAF music services, taking him from the "front line" to International Ambassor through his work as a French Horn player and Drum Majorwith the RAF Regiment and College Bands. Originally from Barry, Clive returned to the Vale after his service and now lives in a rural farmhouse which he has renovated himself.
Clive joined the band in December 2009 and has quickly become an invaluable member of the "Rapid Response Team" nicknamed for their ability to assemble at short notice to play during the day in particular to support the RAF No. 4 School of Technical Training Graduation Parades. Although not in the band for very long yet, Clive has already experienced the confusion that often occurs over the dress codes for events and has had the embarrassment of turning up wearing the wrong outfit!
Abigayle Stone
 Abigail is studying for a degree at Cardiff University and is a member of the University Brass Band, she came to play at St Athan when the other students dragged her along to come with the band to Scotland on Tour at Easter 2009, she enjoyed the tour so much that she stayed. Abi also plays the Flute to Grade 8 standard. She has done most of her playing in Wigston Band where Abi took up the Cornet as a second instrument and also because her whole family play in the band and also Enderby Youth Band.
Abi spends alot of time at RAF St Athan other than playing in the band, as a University of Wales Air Squadron officer she is expected to undertake training excercises, flying, hosting and reception duties not to mention the endless socialising that's expected of her at the Officer's Mess. Abi also enjoys horseriding in her spare time, that is when she gets any from playing in band, UWAS activities and not to mention her degree studies.
Abi's favourite types of band engagements are contests where she gets stuck in to the musical challenge that they present. Although the highlight of her time here at St Athan was the Scotland Tour, but she's not allowed to be in charge of the back row corent section's mutes because she once suffered speakless embarrassment when she was playing a delicate, quiet moment in Tallis Variations on stage in a contest and her harmon mute fell out and bounced across the stage - oops!
Norman Partridge
Norman Pa rtridge is a resident of St Athan village and his associations with the Royal Air Force go back as far as his National Service days were he joined the RAF – in fact he first played at RAF St Athan as part of the station dance band in 1951. Norman first joined the Voluntary Band in the early 1970's when he played Principal Trombone! Norman re-joined the band in 2002 forming part of a very experienced back row cornet team. Norman especially likes the fact that playing for the village band means he has a very short drive to the bandroom!
Growing up through the dance band era, Norman saw playing the trumpet as a way to earn extra money playing at dances on the weekends and took up the instrument aged 16 and is entirely self-taught. Norman’s musical career consists of a period of 40 years where he took on lead trumpet in dance bands. Needing a new challenge in his musical career, he then took up Clarinet and Saxophone, once again specialising in dance band and Dixieland music and was a regular member of the RAF St Athan’s Swing Commander’s Dance Band.
Norman has also played for the Vale of Glamorgan band in Barry. His son Victor used to be a regular visitor to the band also, and both father and son can be seen on the parade square regularly playing for the Passing Out Parades for the trainees on station. Norman enjoys the thrill of our concert work and it is these events which give him the most pleasure. However we are pleased to say that Victor joined the band permanently in December 2009.
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