The Team

  • Honorary Patron – Barrie Hingley
  • Band Manager – Duncan Hall
  • Musical Director – Andrew Mackereth
  • Secretary – Pam Murdoch
  • Band Sergeant – Peter Birch
  • Chaplain – Lt. Kate Gregory
  • Assistant Chaplain – Sharon O’Connell
  • Librarian – Corrine Shimmon
  • Multimedia and Public Relations – Steve Gibson
  • Website – Zoe Homes
Andrew Robertson Mackereth – Musical Director and Co-Founder

Well-known for his compositions and arrangements, Andrew R. Mackereth has more than fifty compositions; religious and secular in print; many frequently feature on the concert programmes of premier Salvation Army Bands. These, along with numerous manuscripts awaiting publication, are continually featured on international broadcasts and recordings.

Andrew Mackereth was born in Gateshead Tyne & wear in 1965. A fourth generation Salvationist, he first attended a meeting aged barely a week old. The son of officer parents, he has lived in many places including 4 years in Zambia and nine years in Kingston-upon-Hull. It was here that he began his earliest musical training.

Andrew earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the Birmingham Conservatoire and for nearly twenty years taught music in Secondary Schools. He is now a Head Teacher by profession, and continues to be in demand as conductor, composer and lecturer and has appeared throughout the United Kingdom, America, Germany and Argentina.

In September 2007, he was appointed Headteacher of the Heart of England School in Balsall Common, England. Andrew lives in Nuneaton with his wife Stella and two children, Eleanor and Joshua. They all attend Nuneaton Citadel, where Andrew serves as Bandmaster.

In 2008, Andrew was honoured by the New York Staff Band as the guest at the prestigious: Profile 30.

Duncan Hall – Band Manager

Born into a Salvationist family in Sunderland in the North- East of England, Duncan attended the Corps at Sunderland Citadel where his father was Bandmaster and his mother was the Primary Sergeant.

Duncan started playing Euphonium in the Young Peoples Band before moving on to Euphonium in the Senior Band. Aged 17 he became Singing Company Leader. Whilst at Sunderland Citadel Duncan attended many music schools and played Solo Euphonium in the Northern Divisional Youth Band, with whom he was fortunate to tour Norway and play in the Royal Albert Hall, London.

It was whilst at music school where he met Pamela Hepplewhite who was to become his wife. Duncan moved to South Shields Citadel prior to his marriage to Pamela and they had a son, Andrew, and a daughter, Sarah.

Duncan held multiple positions at South Shields Citadel: Asst. Young Peoples Band Leader, Deputy Songster Leader, Corps Sergeant Major and Songster Leader. He also played various instruments in the senior band, as and when required, with a notable 15 years on Bass Trombone.

In 1999 the whole family moved to Hertfordshire and attended the Letchworth Corps, where Duncan was to become 1st Trombone, Bass Trombone then Solo Euphonium in the senior band, as well as being Deputy Songster Leader then Songster Leader.

Duncan played in Hemel Hempstead Brass Band where he became Solo Euphonium before moving to Haverhill Silver Band, on 2nd Euphonium. After a 2 year break from playing Duncan now plays euphonium with City of Cambridge Brass Band.

Since joining SASWE in 2001 Duncan has been fortunate to play Bass Trombone, 2nd Trombone, 1st Trombone and Euphonium, and also perform in the Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

Kate Gregory – Chaplain

OKate is a member of the flute section and attended the very first SASWE rehearsal at Ilford Corps. Kate serves as the Commanding Officer of the Brighton Congress Hall Corps.

John Davie – Co-Founder

John Davie was born in 1939 and his formative years were spent in the north east of England, near the town of Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham. As a child he attended a Methodist Sunday School eventually becoming a member of the church.

As a thirteen year old he was given the opportunity of learning to play the cornet or the clarinet. The cornet won and he has been trying to play the clarinet ever since. His first contact with the Salvation Army was in 1960 and he became a Salvationist in 1962.

In 1958 in joined the Royal Air Force and began his musical career as a clarinettist, training at the Royal Air Force School of Music. He then served with the No. 4 Regional Band, R.A.F. Henlow for three years before joining the Central Band of the Royal Air Force. During this time he continued his clarinet studies privately with Stephen Waters (Professor, Royal Academy of Music) and Ralph Clarke (Professor, Royal College of Music).

During this period he obtained performance and teaching diplomas from the London College of Music (L.L.C.M.(TD), A.L.C.M.)

The last four years of service were spent as Head of Woodwind and Instructor at the Royal Air Force School of Music, Uxbridge. During this period he gained conducting diplomas from the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal College of Music and Trinity College of Music (L.R.A.M., A.R.C.M., F.T.C.L.).

He has been involved with music making in Buckinghamshire since 1965 and when he retired from full time teaching in 1998 he was Woodwind Team Leader for the Buckinghamshire Music Service. In 1969, with nine clarinet players, he founder what became the High Wycombe Music Centre Concert Band and continued as conductor until 1998.

In 1980 he established the Chiltern Concert Band, which is a community band based in High Wycombe and was chairman until 1996. He now still attempts to play the clarinet and is known for his friendly repartee with the conductor(s) and if necessary, if persuaded, will also conduct the band.

In 1985 he was invited to organise the Bucks County Youth Wind Band Courses, and was the Director from 1986 to 1993.

In January 1987 he became the Director of the newly formed Buckinhamshire Symphonic Wind Ensemble until 1993.

In September 1997 he became the Director of the newly formed Bucks Youth Wind Orchestra until 2002.

From 1992 until 1997 he was the chairman of the London and Home Counties Committee of the British Association of Symphonic Bands and Wind Ensembles and member of the National Executive.

In 1993 he became the co-ordinator for the Altarnon Summer Concerts held in the ‘Cathedral of the Moor’ the Parish Church of St. Nonna, Altarnon, Cornwall and in 1994 the Director of the Altarnon Wind and Brass Instrumental Workshops which were held annually until 1999.

In 1994 he co-instigated the establishment of the Salvation Army Symphonic Wind Ensemble and is at present the coordinator.

As a Salvationist he has served as Bandmaster at the Uxbridge (1971-1974) and Hanwell Corps (1984-1996) of The Salvation Army. In 1998 he was appointed Bandleader of the Maidenhead Salvation Army Young People’s Band. Also in 1998 he became the Corps Alpha Coordinator and in January 2000 was appointed Chairman of the Corps Mission Cluster Group and serviced in that capacity until 2004.

As well as musical appointments he has served as Corps Sergeant Major, Goodwill League Secretary and League of Mercy Secretary. He was a member of the West London Divisional Advisory Council for several years, serving as chairman from 1993-1995.

In April 2004 he was nominated for the award of Honorary Master of Arts degree by the authority of the Council and Senate of Buckinghamshire New  University.

‘The award is in recognition of his distinctive contribution to the local community over many years and his work in the development of youth music locally and his association with the Buckinghamshire New University.” The award was conferred at a Degree Congregation on 7th September, 2004.

John retired as Band Leader at Maidenhead Corps in 2014 after 30 years continuous service as a Band Master and Band Leader.

John was honoured when he was awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from  The Music Teacher Awards for Excellence in 2019.

Alan D Laken (1947 – 2002) – Associate Musical Director, Honorary Composer in Residence and Co-Founder

Alan was born in Ilford, Essex on 31st March 1947. When Alan was seven he started piano lessons and when he was eight he began learning a brass instrument at the Salvation Army.

In 1961 at the age of 14 he auditioned on trombone and piano for the Royal Marines Band Service. Having passed the entrance examination, Alan was taught flute and piano at the Royal Marines School of Music at Deal, Kent. Aged 17 in 1964, he was awarded the Cassels Prize for best overall student. In November 1971 Alan came out of the Band Service to begin his teaching career.

Alan became a peripatetic woodwind teacher for various London Education Authorities before gaining full time employment for the London Borough of Redbridge. He gained a teaching diploma from the Royal Academy of Music in 1974 and a Certificate in Education in 1981 before being appointed as Head of Woodwind for Redbridge in 1982. During his career at Redbridge Alan composed/arranged extensively for wind band, voice, orchestra, brass band, wind quintet and massed woodwind groups. He was also commissioned by Chappels/IMP to arrange five flute and seven recorder books, some of which are still in publication.

The Salvation Army remained a large part of Alan’s musical life and has published several songs and brass band compositions. In 1994 Alan became one of the founders of the Salvation Army Symphonic Wind Ensemble and has composed a large part of their particular repertoire.

In December 2000, Alan and his wife, Jenny moved down to Dorset where he died in September 2002. His elder daughter, Melanie is married and has a young son Gregory and a daughter, Elysha Rose. His younger daughter, Michelle has followed her father into the teaching profession and is in charge of the Infants Department at a school in Essex.

Alan’s music, however, lives on and more information of his compositions can be found on his website: www.apollo-music.com/www.apollo-music.co.uk or by contacting Andrew Mackereth.

Honorary Patron – Barrie Hingley

Barrie Hingley

Wing Commander Barrie Hingley OBE BMus LRAM ARCM RAF (Ret’d) Barrie Hingley was educated at Drax Grammar School and started his musical interest in the Salvation Army Band in Selby, Yorkshire. He joined Royal Air Force Music Services in 1956, spending a year in the RAF School of Music, and later gained conducting diplomas at The Royal Academy of Music and The Royal College of Music followed by a Bachelor of Music Honours Degree at London University.

After serving with several Royal Air Force Bands at home and abroad he was commissioned in 1967 and became Director of Music of the Band of Royal Air Force Germany and then the Midland Band of the RAF. His service was recognised In 1971 by the award of the MBE. Later appointments included Director of Music of the RAF School of Music for eleven years, and Director of Music of the Central Band and Headquarters Music Services. His promotion to the post of Principal Director of Music RAF in February 1989 made him the tenth in a line of distinguished musicians who have been at the head of RAF music.

As Principal Director of Music he conducted hundreds of concerts, parades, recordings and broadcasts in the UK and many of his arrangements and compositions have been recorded by RAF Bands. He conducted the RAF Central Band on tours of France, Hong Kong, Canada and on two major tours of the USA. He became Senior Director of Music of the three Services and had musical responsibility for many National events. The tribute to HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in celebration of her 90th birthday held on Horse Guards Parade in June 1990 involved the co-ordination of many bands and choirs, conducting over 1000 musicians and writing much of the music. He was awarded the OBE in the 1995 New Year’s Honours List just prior to his retirement.

After leaving the RAF he has continued to compose and arrange music. His music is constantly played in TV and Radio programmes throughout the world. Commissions have been completed for HM The Queen’s Annual Christmas television broadcasts, including a new version of the National Anthem recorded by the Choristers of Westminster Abbey; the Sultan of Oman’s 25th Anniversary Celebrations, the Centenary Celebrations in Saudi Arabia, the 50th Anniversary of VE Day performed by a large Symphony Orchestra and 1000 voice choir, and music for BBC TV broadcasts and tribute events on Horse Guards Parade with massed service bands, choirs and orchestras. The National Youth Ballet commissioned him to write a ‘Nativity’ Ballet which has been performed at the Royal Albert Hall, on BBC TV and Sadler’s Wells. His music has been used for many films, documentaries and TV programmes, the Royal Tournament, the Festival of Remembrance, and the Edinburgh Tattoo.

He was appointed Director of Music for the Queen’s Golden Wedding Pageant, a celebration with over 1,000 horses in Windsor Great Park, with musical forces included the Massed Bands of the Guards Division, a large Symphony Orchestra, Six Fanfare Teams, Massed Mounted Bands and the 300-piece Bach Choir under Sir David Willcocks. Unfortunately, with rehearsals completed and CD’s recorded and ready, the event had to be cancelled because of extreme weather conditions!

Other commissions have included writing the music for the Queen Mother’s 100th Birthday Celebrations, including Her Birthday Song, and music for the huge musical forces in the Mall and forecourt of Buckingham Palace for HM The Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations for which he was director of music. His Jubilee Anthem for that event was recorded by the Choir of St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Royal Philharmonic orchestra as an official tribute.

In retirement, Barrie Hingley’s interest and support for the Salvation Army in his early years still continues in Hillingdon, West London. He is also the President of the Royal Air Force Music Services Association.
Barrie says: “I heard the Salvation Army Symphonic Wind Ensemble (SASWE) perform recently at the Symphonic Hall, Birmingham. The Ensemble was heard during the day and in the evening concert alongside other Salvation Army Bands of the highest musical quality. Despite Salvation Army audiences being more familiar with the sound of a brass band, the fine musicality of the Wind Ensemble’s playing brought warm and enthusiastic applause from the audience. I thought it was well deserved.”