Conductor to the Senior Band

Musical Director Robert Quane started playing Brass when he was 14 just after the band reformed. He has lots of letters after his name but none to do with music! He became Musical Director around 1990 / 1991 and remains indebted to the hardwork of the Committee and Ray and John. He attributes the band's success to a thriving youth programme, an enthusiastic team of supporters, an intrinsic belief in musicianship and to ensuring that we all enjoy each practice.

An excellent cornet player,soloist and exceptional musician.. With the aid of multi tracking he could probably play a brass band piece on all the instruments himself !

Irrepressible sense of humour with a fund of corny jokes.

Deputy Conductor to the Senior Band

Senior Conductor to the Junior Band

Ray Gillis is the band's mentor and tutor. Formerly a Grenadier Guards bandsman , he is regularly seen at the band room with students on a one-to-one basis most days of the week. Ray is also one of the founder members of the band and deserves much credit for helping to make the band the the musical and social influence it is in the North of the Island.

Title: Deputy Conductor to the Junior Band

Ray's alter ego , John also spends many hours organising and helping the Junior Band , starting new members with Ray and doing the valuable necessary groundwork before they eventually move up to the Senior Band.

Formerly a talented hockey player , Captain of the the Isle of Man team for many years and played for the Northern Counties Mixed team. Started on Trombone at age 39 when Anno Domini started catching him up and has played a variety of instruments--BBb Bass , EEb Bass , Baritone, Tenor , Cornet , mainly helping younger players. Settled on Trombone at present. In his own words , "Master of none but I enjoy myself! "

Principal Cornet

Meghan first started playing the tenor horn at the age of 8 then when she joined the Senior Band decided to switch to the cornet.

She also plays in the National Youth Brass Band of GB.

Talented player of various other instruments. Excels too at dance.

Solo Cornet

Milena has been in the Band playing cornet via the Juniors and Seniors for the last 15 years, with just a brief break to have daughter Chloe, now 6. Living in Ramsey initially she lived right opposite the church where our band rehearsed before we were able to raise the cash to build our own bandroom-she could scarcely miss us.

By profession a nurse, she is calm and reliable.

Solo Cornet & Kit Percussion

Illiam started on drums when he was 5 and took up the cornet at 6. He played both in the Junior Band , but mainly drums. In the Senior Band now he plays mostly cornet but helps out on the drums when needed.

He also plays in the Children's Brass Band of GB

The epitome of precocious.

Joined the front rank in September 2008. Previously on Repiano.

Currently studying at University.

Never needs to be told to play up--quite the reverse!

Eb Soprano Cornet

Ross joined the Junior Band in 2000 and by August was on 3rd Cornet in the Senior Band.He moved briefly to 2nd Cornet after a year then next to Soprano Cornet where he is now , and he loves it! Presently Grade 6.

He's also in his School Orchestra and in May will join the Manx Youth Orchestra too.

Musically very exposed at times but has the nerve to cope.

Repiano

Alfie started on cornet with the Junior Band in 2004 and has progressed steadily in the Senior Band. He also plays in the Brass Group in school .At home he practises the trumpet too.

In a farming family he's also a star, looking after the chickens and turkeys , while often winning prizes for the vegetables he grows. Has a genius for getting his photo in the local papers at frequent intervals!

2nd Cornet

When in his fifties Steve asked 2 very good brass players if he was too old to learn to play a brass instrument.The first,a dour Scot, bluntly said,"Yes,you'll never be any good.",then promptly offered to lend him a cornet if Steve wanted to ignore his advice. The second,a peripatetic brass teacher, phrased things more subtly mentioning limited lip flexibility with age, then said,"Go ahead and you'll enjoy playing whatever standard you reach." Turns out they were both right !!

Also plays trumpet in a Big Swing Band.

2nd Cornet

Robyn started in the Junior Band in 2004 and moved to the Seniors in 2006.She also plays in her school Brass Group.

2nd Cornet

Stephen started with the Junior Band in 2005 but has just transfered to the Seniors.

3rd Cornet

Another member of mature age who started with the Juniors in 2003 in her late forties.

Enjoys the friendliness of the band particularly.

3rd Cornet

1st Tenor Horn

Ellen started on tenor horn in the Junior Band when she was 6, really enjoys it and now plays in the Senior Band and even a scondary school brass group. Well known for her odd socks and sense of humour.

She also plays in the Children's Brass Band of GB.

1st Tenor Horn

Has been playing since she was 10. Had a break from playing whilst at Uni. Previously played for New Forest Brass and Hythe and Dibden Brass Bands.

Principal Euphonium & Webmaster

Phil started on Cornet with the Juniors about 1995 , continued into the Seniors on Cornet at first but then switched to Euphonium about 4 years ago and loves its sound. While at Preston University spent one year playing with Lostock Hall , a very enjoyable and valuable time with this friendly and active band.

I.T. professional and technical wizard who took over as Webmaster (Feb. 2008). Spends his spare time kayaking , and correcting the computer problems which his friends and particularly his Dad create!

2nd Baritone

See above.

Principal Trombone

Alex is a very well-known face and voice on the Island.Full-time Manx Radio Breakfast Show Presenter and Producer, he somehow also manages to involve himself in a great variety of creative and musical exploits,writing,directing,acting,presenting on stage and screen too.Multi-talented,one being the ability to exist on minimal sleep, always cheerful and enthusiastic, he started on piano at aged 4 , on cornet at 6 ,switched to trombone at10 and gained Grade 8 at aged 15 on both piano and trombone.

Non band uniform here because of his Manx Radio contract !

2nd Trombone

See above.

Bass Trombone

A very experienced musician. John started on Cornet as a boy with the Castletown Metropolitan Band, and while serving with the RAF continued on cornet with Station Bands.He took a break for a while when working in England , but on return to the Island became one of the founder members of the reformed Ramsey Town Band in October 1981. ( Ray, incidentally, is the only other remaining founder member). John found an old G ( Bass ) trombone was one of the few instruments then still playable and tackled that ! At the inaugural meeting to reform the Band he became Treasurer , and he's done such a good job since then that we've re-elected him automatically every year.

He also plays Trombone in a Big Swing Band and a small dance band.

Eb Bass

Currently studying at university

BBb Bass

Martin started in the Juniors on Euphonium in 2003 then moved to Bass. Joining the Seniors in 2006 he is another who plays in his school Brass Group.

BBb Bass

Judith started on Cornet in the band at 16 then moved onto Euphonium and Flugel. She temporarily took a break to have the 3 little Quanes but is now back via Bass, then Baritone, then Bass again.

Also plays banjo. A keen walker and cyclist

Many reckon her greatest ability is organising her very talented and exuberant family !

BBb Bass

Very experienced bandsman, having been 22 years with Onchan Silver Bane as player, secretary, Press officer and Deputy Conductor.

Grant has visited the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium with the IOM Wind Orchestra.

Founder member of the Sheean Prash Brass Quintet which toured Southern France in 2005

Another railway enthusiast, Grant's a director and Secretary of the IOM Steam Railway Supporters' Association and Groudle Glen Railway.

Tuned Percussion

Much admired for her impressive equipment, Giusy joined the Band in January 1990 having heard the xylophone duet " The Two Imps " and decided she wanted to have a go.!She has always played percussion as she freely admits not being able to get anything remotely musical out of a brass instrument. She loves playing percussion stating that hitting things can be very therapeutic , particularly after a hard day at work.She has been the Band's very efficient Secretary for the last two years. Giusy regularly appears in the annual panto( Look up this year's panto photos on this site ) and in her spare time is an ardent and very vocal Italy football fan thanks to her Dad.

Percussion

Joining only a year ago, Mark is gaining a good grounding in percussion in both Junior and Senior bands , with lots of help and encouragement from Giussi and Rob.