Gemma Meenan

Member:

Instrument: Tenor Horn

I played the tenor horn in the band and had a great experience. I started when I was in primary school, and then went on to the grammar playing in the school band then on to Campbeltown brass. We have so many good memories, especially when we travelled playing at different events and contests. It is a shame I gave up playing the tenor horn in Campbeltown, but after school I wanted to study and live in Stirling, therefore had to move away from my home, friends and family. I studied nursing at Stirling University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in general nursing in 2008.

I worked as a staff nurse in Stirling Royal Infirmary for a year then decided I wanted to see the world – so I took off travelling the world for 8 months. It was amazing! So now that I am back I am currently looking for a more permanent position as a nurse, but to keep me going I am getting lots of shifts on the bank as a staff nurse working in a busy surgical ward.

Member: 1993 - 1999
Instrument: Tenor Horn

I played 2nd horn then solo horn up until 1999 when I moved to Glasgow to attend university. I joined Johnston Silver as 2nd horn for a couple of years and played at the nationals at the Albert Hall before deciding to call it a day. Although I don’t have a brass instrument of my own, I still love brass bands!

I still have a keen interest in music these days, not as a performer, but through helping to organise the Kintyre Songwriters Festival.

Member: 1986 - 1990
Instrument: Tenor Horn

I started off my brass career sitting beside someone a lot older than me (who will remain nameless), who wasn't that great at playing ("just wiggle the valves and blast something out" would be his advice) but was good at coming up with nicknames, hence the reason during my musical career with the band I would be forever referred to as "Flash". Even when I became principle horn player, the nickname was there forever. Cheers mate!

I left the band the year that Harry Secombe came to the town to film the band playing on "Songs of Praise"; mainly because I didn't want to be caught on camera with a mullet and I also had to head to university that same weekend.

Since then I've ran a music promotion company, been a guitarist in numerous rock/pop/cheese/you-name-it bands, had my songs on MTV and performed in front of a dancing chicken on national television. My main musical outlet these days is helping run the Kintyre Songwriters Festival.