BB: What was your first brass band CD?

DC: My first brass band recordings were actually in the form of LPs rather than CDs! My Mum & Dad had a great LP collection which I'd often explore when they'd gone out to band practice and left me with the babysitter – my Nan! The LP I used to listen to over and over was 'James Last – In the Mood for Trumpets', but that was closely followed by a Grimethorpe LP called 'King Size Brass'. At that time I don't remember there being too many Black Dyke Albums in the collection to pick from. The first CD I owned was 'Childs Play' featuring my Dad and Uncle – it's still a cracker and remains a source of inspiration for me.

BB: When did you first hear Black Dyke?

DC: My earliest memory of hearing Black Dyke in a competition was back in 1992 at the European Brass Band Championships held in Cardiff. It was the band's first contest under James Watson and they came 2nd to a fantastic Fodens with Nicholas Childs on principal euphonium! After hearing Dyke there I heard them many times again.

BB: What was it like playing on stage with the band this year at the Albert Hall?

DC: It was quite surreal in honesty! The solo I played was accompanied by a 10 piece brass and percussion group from Cory so it didn't involve any of the Dyke players. This meant in addition to a packed Royal Albert Hall, my audience included the entire Black Dyke Band who remained on stage sat around me as I played! To be honest, with players like that listening it wouldn't have mattered to me if the hall had been empty – I knew I had an educated audience on stage with me!

BB: When is the first time you heard your Dad playing with Black Dyke?

DC: I think it was at the contest I referred to earlier – 1992 Europeans. During the Gala Concert at that event he played two movements from Elgar's Cello Concerto; at the time everyone said it was phenomenal, but for an 11 year old son it was much more than that. I know my Dad played with Dyke a couple of years earlier under Major Parkes and David King, but in honesty I don't remember hearing him with the band during that period.

BB: When did you first play with the band and what was that like?

DC: I first played with Black Dyke in August 1995. I was 14 and it was Black Dyke's first rehearsal back after their summer break. Jim Watson was unable to be at the rehearsal so asked my Dad to conduct leaving a space in the euphonium section which I was asked to fill. I was very excited about the prospect, particularly as the piece they were to rehearse was Philip Wilby's brand new Revelation in preparation for the British Open. I remember the evening extremely well; I was sat on opposite sides of the band room to John French and was given my Dad's solo euphonium part to play – I don't think I've ever concentrated as hard for two hours in my entire life! Mid way through the piece I remember having to stand up and play the solo cadenza and beautiful duet which followed. It went pretty well by a 14 year old's standards and when I reached the end the band stopped and gave me a great round of applause led by Bobby Blackburn and Kevin Crockford! Twelve years later I now have lots of great banding memories, but that is one I'll never forget.