Steve started playing the cornet aged 11 at Corby Beanfield School under the tuition of the well known Salvation Army band conductor, Don Manning.  After rapidly moving to Tenor Horn, Baritone and then Eb Bass Steve became a member of the Northamptonshire County Youth Brass Band where John Berryman had a large influence on his banding.

At the age of 18, Steve joined the William Davis Construction Brass Band where he was a member for 8 years until 1986, during this time winning the 1980 “BBC Band of the Year” and many other prizes.  Whilst at William Davis, he had the pleasure of playing in most of the major concert halls in the UK and Europe, including the old Belle Vue, Royal Albert Hall and Vienna Opera House and competing in several National Championship Finals and British Opens.

Also, during this period Steve toured the USA, Canada and Europe and performed on several LP recordings, BBC Radio 3 Bandstand, Radio 2 Listen to the Band and Friday Night is Music Night.

After a ten year break from playing Steve joined the St Albans City Band in 1996.  At this time the band was languishing in the 4th Section and has had the pleasure of seeing them rise during the past fifteen years to the 1st Section.