Steve Hartley our MD Steve was born in Wrexham North Wales, and played with many local bands in the area including Gresford Colliery, City of Chester and Point of Ayr. He attended Salford College in the early 80`s studying conducting under Roy Newsome, and composition under Goff Richards,culminating in a Graduate Diploma in Band Musicianship. Whilst studying at Salford Steve played with the Rochdale Wilsons Band band appearing 3 times at the British Open Championships. The urge to conduct soon took over, and he embarked on a Conducting career with the Windsor Band in Salford, later conducting Todmorden Old, Haworth and Golborne bands. In 1987 he was appointed Musical Director to the Marton Mere Park Band in Blackpool, and moved to live on the Fylde coast. Steve has had two spells conducting the Poulton le Fylde Band and has also conducted Thornton Cleveleys and North Fylde Brass. He is employed as a Civil Servant in Blackpool, and also instructs a number of pupils in Brass playing and Music Theory, preparing them for examination at the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. Steve describes Banding as a Way of Life he is privileged to be part of, and counts the instruction from Roy Newsome at Salford as the greatest influence on his Musical Career. Away from Music, Steve is a keen Crown Green Bowler, and somehow finds time to play four nights a week for the Norcross and Cleveleys Working Mens Clubs, winning both Club and local League competitions. On the odd night he has free, Steve is at home with wife Vivien and twelve year old Son Robert. Vivien is a lapsed Tenor Horn player, and whilst Robert can knock out a few scales on horn, he has not yet got hooked by the Brass Band. Robert is a mad keen golfer and footballer, and on the advice of his Dad is following the money, hoping that he will make some and remember his Dad when he does.