Meet the Band
Get to know our players
Oddfellows Brass is a dynamic and talented brass band based in Leicestershire, UK. Our team is made up of dedicated musicians who specialise in creating beautiful and captivating music. We are a close-knit group, brought together by our shared love for brass music. Each member of our team brings their own unique skills and musical abilities to the table, creating a harmonious blend of sound.
Principal Cornet
Ian Dickman
Principal Cornet of Oddfellows Brass, Ian began playing at the age of 11 and quickly made his way through some of the UK's top bands, including Foden's, Brighouse and Rastrick, GUS, and Desford Colliery. At just 14 he won the North of England Solo Championship, and by 16 he was taking on soprano cornet with Leyland Vehicles Band under the legendary Richard Evans, not a bad start for a teenager.
He went on to appear as a featured soloist on BBC2's Best of Brass in 1985 and Champion Brass in 1987, solidifying his place as one of the standout cornet players of his generation. Ian joined Oddfellows in 1999, where, in addition to making great music, he also met his wife, Elaine, proving that banding occasionally leads to more than just late-night rehearsals.
With decades of experience and a genuine passion for brass banding, Ian continues to be a driving force behind the band's sound and success.
Solo Cornet
Andy Platts
Solo Cornet
John Hill
Solo Cornet
Laura Springthorpe
Laura originally had her heart set on learning the cello at school, but her mum, quite sensibly, didn't fancy hauling a giant case back and forth every week. A trumpet was deemed a far more manageable option, and so her brass band journey began. After a few lessons, some practice sessions at the far end of the garden (again, at her mum's request), an advert spotted in the local paper, and an audition held over a landline phone, Laura found herself taking lessons with South Midlands Welfare Band, now Leicestershire Co-op.
She soon progressed into the main band and played her first area contest at the age of 14. Since then, Laura has played in just about every section and with a variety of bands, collecting stories, experiences, and a fair number of rehearsal miles along the way. Highlights include winning at the National Mineworkers Championship in Blackpool and competing at the National Finals in Torquay.
But for Laura, the best part of banding isn't just the music or the contests, it's the lifelong friends she's made throughout her journey.
Soprano Cornet
Chris Massingham
Chris began playing trumpet at 13 at Ryde High School on the Isle of Wight, juggling the Isle of Wight Youth Concert Band, Youth Orchestra, and Ryde Brass Band, basically any ensemble that would let her in the door! After school she joined the Royal Air Force, taking an unintentionally long break from playing thanks to work, travel, and life happening all at once.
In 2005, while posted to Lincolnshire, the banding bug bit again. She returned on Bb cornet, switched to soprano in 2009, and played with the City of Lincoln Band, the Hospital's Band, and Newark Town Band, all non-contesting, but excellent training grounds (and excellent places to avoid the stress of draw numbers).
One of her favourite adventures was joining the all-female band Boobs and Brass, including a memorable joint concert with Brighouse and Rastrick at Huddersfield Town Hall, a stage that definitely keeps you on your toes. Contesting life arrived later with Harborough Band, before she eventually found herself back at Newark Town Band post-COVID.
Chris joined Oddfellows Brass in March 2025 and is now fully prepared for whatever musical challenges, high notes, or unexpected rehearsal snacks come her way.
Repiano Cornet
Jo Reed
Second Cornet
Paul Spence
Second Cornet
Elaine Dickman
Elaine began her musical journey at the age of 10, playing cornet with the Paddock Youth Band in Huddersfield, a perfect start for someone growing up in a part of Yorkshire where brass banding is practically a local sport. Her enthusiasm quickly grew, and by 16 she had earned a place with the Meltham and Meltham Mills Band, performing in the fiercely competitive Yorkshire First Section (not for the faint-hearted or the under-practised).
At 19 she moved to Leicestershire for university, immediately seeking out Croft Silver Band, where one of her standout moments was competing at the National Finals in London. Since then, she's brought her talents to several respected bands, including Ibstock Brick Brass and the Enderby Band, collecting plenty of musical memories (and probably a few long coach-trip stories) along the way.
Elaine now proudly plays with Oddfellows Brass, where she continues to enjoy every moment of her banding life…and where the band is very glad she decided to trade Yorkshire for the Midlands.
Third Cornet
Dean Sargent
Third Cornet
Olivia Middlebrook
Olivia picked up a cornet at the age of eight, joining Wantage Silver Band and firmly beginning a decade-long habit she's never quite shaken off. Before long she found herself soaring into the stratosphere as a soprano cornet player, eventually taking the Principal Soprano seat with the National Children's Brass Band, and later adding the National Youth Brass Band to her musical résumé, because why just play high notes when you can play really high notes?
After her time with Wantage, she moved on to Sandhurst Silver Band, then took a three-year breather from banding, presumably to give her eardrums (and everyone else's) a rest. In 2023, university brought her to a new city and straight into the arms of Oddfellows, where she has been dazzling, sparkling, and occasionally deafening ever since.
Her favourite banding memory is the Butlin's Mineworkers Contest, not necessarily for the music, but for the social side. Because if brass banding teaches you anything, it's that the notes might fade, but the shenanigans live forever
Flugel Horn
Rob Boulter
Rob began his musical adventure at the age of 10, when he first picked up the cornet with the Enderby Band—an innocent moment that unknowingly committed him to more than six decades of brass banding. What started as "give this a try" has now become 62 years of music, memories, and more rehearsals than anyone could possibly count.
In 1981, Rob's passion for music led him to found Unity Brass, where he went on to conduct for over 30 years. During that time he guided, encouraged, and occasionally herded countless musician,sometimes all at once!
Today, Rob continues to share his musical talents with Oddfellows Brass, where he now plays flugelhorn and proudly holds the title of longest-serving member. He hasn't decided yet if this is a badge of honour or simply proof that he never figured out how to leave.
Over the years, Rob has collected a lifetime of highlights, with band tours to Barbados standing firmly at the top. The 2000 tour remains especially memorable—when 100 Oddfellows members, including the board of directors, descended on the island in what can only be described as a logistical miracle (or mild chaos). It's a memory Rob still treasures from a truly extraordinary life in brass banding.
Solo Horn
Emma Brown
You could say Emma was born into banding...quite literally. She attended her first rehearsal at just three days old, which is impressive considering most newborns struggle to hold their own head up, let alone sit through a brass band warm-up. She officially picked up a cornet at 7, later switching to tenor horn at 18, and never once looking back…probably because the horn section wouldn't let her escape even if she tried.
Emma spent eight memorable years with Carlton Main Frickley, proving that loyalty, stamina, and a strong lip can get you surprisingly far in life. Along the way, she's performed in some of the UK's finest concert halls; Birmingham Symphony Hall and the Royal Albert Hall among them — under the baton of several legendary conductors.
After an 18-month break to focus on family, Emma was tempted back into the banding world when she agreed to dep "just once" for a rehearsal. The conductor? Only the biggest legend of them all: her dad. And as everyone in brass banding knows, "just once" is code for "welcome back, you're not going anywhere.
First Horn
Carole Atkinson
Second Horn
Diane Boulter
Diane began playing at the age of 11 with the Foresters Youth Band, starting out on the back row cornet and quickly discovering a lifelong love of banding. After a break during university, she returned to music in 1984 when she joined Unity Brass (now Oddfellows Brass) where she moved onto Tenor Horn and has stayed ever since. Over 40 years later, she's still there, proving that some commitments really do stand the test of time.
Two standout moments in Diane's banding journey include taking 2nd place at the National Finals at Wembley in 1986, and performing on the stage of the Royal Albert Hall in 1995, both unforgettable experiences that remain close to her heart. It's been quite a journey, and Diane is proud to still be part of the Oddfellows story after all these years
Solo Euphonium
Paul Speed
Second Euphonium
Vacancy
Solo Baritone
Bethan Brown
Bethan began playing baritone at the age of 7 with the Leicestershire Co-op Training Band, starting a musical journey that escalated quickly, in the best possible way. She soon joined Youth Brass 2000, where she helped the band collect a shelf's worth of major youth titles, including the Europeans.
By 15, Bethan had joined the Midlands Area Champions, GUS, all while holding the Principal Baritone seat for both the National Children's Brass Band of Great Britain and the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain. Clearly, she's not one for half-measures.
She went on to study classical music at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, graduating with a first-class degree and picking up plenty of musical adventures along the way, performing with bands such as Leyland, Flowers, and making guest appearances with Tredegar, Brighouse & Rastrick, and Grimethorpe.
Second Baritone
Laura Brown
Solo Trombone.
John Weston
John first picked up a cornet at the age of six or seven, an age when most children are still figuring out crayons. He quickly swapped to baritone, and before long found himself on euphonium, playing with the Salvation Army and wondering how the instruments kept getting bigger every year.
At the same time, he served as Solo Euphonium for the Birmingham Schools Wind Orchestra, which included the unforgettable experience of performing in Vienna in 1984 at the European Wind Band Festival - his first taste of international musical fame.
University came along, and with it the traditional student rite of not practising. John hung up the euphonium for a while, but in 1989 he was lured back, this time brandishing a bass trombone for the Unity Brass (now Oddfellows) tour. He returned again for their first Barbados tour, because who wouldn't pick up an instrument for a trip to Barbados?
After another break to build his career (and perhaps recover from the bass trombone), John eventually returned to Oddfellows and has stayed put ever since. Clearly, they can't get rid of him…and at this point, they're not sure they want to!
Second Trombone
Shelley Platts
Bass Trombone
Kev Bexley
Eb Bass
Martin John
Martin John's banding journey began at the age of 7 in Holmfirth, and he's since played for several top bands including Hepworth, Oddfellows, GUS, and Ratby. With a true passion for banding, Martin's ambition is to play every position in a band, all he needs to master now is the trombone... how hard can that be!?
Principal Eb Bass
Sally Julian
Sally first picked up an Eb Bass at 11 and has been laying down the low notes ever since! Her early banding days saw her playing with Daventry & District Silver and Rushden Windmill, while also touring Europe with the Northamptonshire County Youth Brass Band — highlights included a silver medal at the World Youth Music Festival and a show-stopping performance at the Royal Albert Hall with famed percussionist Evelyn Glennie.
She's filled in for countless Midlands bands over the years, proving herself a reliable dep and a solid section player in both brass and orchestral settings. After a short break to raise her family, she dusted off the bass and joined Heart of England Co-operative Orchestra, before joining Newhall and helping them to victory at the 4th Section National Finals.
Sally joined Oddfellows Brass in 2023, and took over the Principal Eb Bass seat in 2024. She also keeps everything ticking over behind the scenes as our General Secretary. When she's not holding down the bottom end, she's raising funds (and the roof) with the all-female "Boobs and Brass," who've raised over £250,000 for charity since their inception in 2006.
Bb Bass
Andy Nutting
Andy began his brass band journey at the age of 13 with the Foresters Youth Band, starting out on Baritone and Euphonium. At 16, he switched to Bb Bass and has played it ever since. He has been a proud member of the Oddfellows Brass Band for over 45 years. A highlight of his time with the band was reaching the National Finals in 1995. One of his proudest moments has been seeing his daughter continue the banding tradition. Being part of this musical family continues to be a huge part of his life.
Bb Bass
Brian Slee
Percussion - Kit
Vacancy
Tuned Percussion
Milly Nutting
Milly joined the brass band world at the age of 15, starting out on Baritone before finding her true place in the percussion section, where she's stayed ever since. She has been a member of Oddfellows Brass for the past seven years and brings energy and enthusiasm to every performance.
One of Milly's favourite parts of banding is seeing the audience smile – especially when she's dancing at the back during concerts! For her, bringing joy through music is what it's all about. Sharing the experience with her dad, also a long-standing member of the band, has made the journey even more meaningful.
Tuned Percussion
Ann Cairns
Ann's musical journey began at the age of five with classical guitar. By 15, she had taken up the Bb bass at school and went on to play with the Northampton Youth Brass Band under the direction of John Berryman for three years.
After taking time out to focus on her career and family, Ann returned to brass banding in 2006, performing with Syston Brass Band and later with Burbage Silver Band. She joined Oddfellows around 2015, originally on Baritone, before moving to Eb Bass to support the band's bass section.
Three years ago, Ann stepped into the percussion section to help out with a contest, and she's been there ever since!