Tony's love of music began to develop at a very young age, possibly influenced by his father, also a music lover. (Indeed, he had played soprano cornet in the Oxford Silver Band when a youth himself). Tony would sometimes listen to his father's reel to reel tape recordings or the  BBC`s  Light Programme on the radiogram, listening to Larry Adler and the Mike Sammes Singers `Sing Something Simple`. Tony was further charmed by the jazz sounds of Kid Orey, Chris Barber, Humphrey Littleton, Kenny Ball and Acker Bilk.  Being approximately four years of age, Tony could not foresee that one day he would be on the bill with Acker Bilk at the Royal Albert Hall, just one of several of his varied performing visits there.

Tony sang in the school choir, claiming fame with his solo rendering of `Once in Royal David's City`. He played the recorder until he was ten years of age and a little self taught piano.

On one of his regular visits to a favourite aunt, Tony always asked for Eddie Calvert`s `Silenzio`  to be played. This tune was both influential and  inspirational in directing Tony towards his trumpet playing career.

A trip to London and Buckingham Palace left a great impression on him as he watched and listened to the splendid sight and sound of the military band performing in all their regalia - and Tony thought `The trumpet's for me`!

When Tony entered secondary school he began to play the trumpet there and during this time was introduced to Royal Engineers Warrant Officer Mervin Andrew who became his teacher and mentor. Merv was a great
influence on Tony's appreciation of music and his playing, encouraging Tony over the next five years as Tony worked his way through all the Associated Board grades.

During this time Tony played in the school band which eventually became known as the Highfield Swing Band, conducted by Eric Williams. On Saturdays Tony attended Medway Music School with trumpet player Peter Reeve, horn player Steve Migden as well as top jazz clarinettist Randy Colville.

From time to time Tony played with the Medway Dance Orchestra, the Dockyard Orchestra (conducted by Tom Stocksley) and the Reg Simpson Big band (escorted by his father as he was still a junior and they were adult bands)!

In 1978 Tony joined the Medway Towns Band under the direction of Wally Hammond, moving up the back row to repiano cornet before joining the army.

Whilst playing with the Medway Towns Band, Tony performed with them on the first Dicken`s Festival. The band entertained at Victoria station for the train special, then travelled down to Rochester with the train full of visitors for the event. He also had the pleasure of attending and playing at the first town twinning event between Medway and Valenciennes in France. Further to this Tony was on Medway Towns Band first recording of `Brass on Draught`.

Tony enlisted with The Staff Band of the Royal Engineers Chatham on June 5^th 1979 and joined The Junior
Musicians Troop Royal Artillery, training with other talented musicians from the Royal Artillery, and the Royal Signals, as well as his own regiment the Royal Engineers under the director of music Warrant Officer Barry
Carben.

During his stay at the college in Woolwich, Tony played on a number of prestigious engagements such as BBC Radio 2`s `Waltzes and Marches`, `Friday Night is Music Night` and Charlie Chester's `Listen to the Band`, The Generation Game and the BBC dramatisation `Little Empire`. Tony's trumpet tutors at this time were Cliff Haynes and Michael Laird. The troop also received the odd master class from Philip Jones Brass Ensemble.

After Music College, Tony returned to his regimental band, playing for major Royal duties and tattoos and
international sporting events, travelling through Europe, visiting Africa and down as far as the Falkland Islands.

However, due to defence cuts and the decline in Military Music Tony became a victim of redundancy.
Subsequently Tony joined the Bournemouth pier production of `Annie` and played at Butlins Minehead for the summer season. He also played in the Inde Coope Bavarian band, depped for several pop groups and finally joined `The Brothers Grimm` a rhythm and blues revue, touring the country and  featuring at all the major open air rock festivals.

In the late 80`s and early 90`s Tony took a break from music until encouraged by a close friend (and fellow
trumpet player) to return to the music scene. Tony plays in most theatres in Kent playing in pit orchestras for Am/dram and operatic societies. He has played for Kent Symphonia, the counties only professional orchestra and Maidstone Symphony Orchestra conducted by Brian Wright.

From time to time Tony records with three different recording studios, playing with up and coming  artists i.e. Joan Coffey and DAVE BLOSSE and their compositions, sometimes adding his own composition to their works.

Tony can on occasion be heard playing with the counties own long running soul and blues band Rubber Biscuit.

For the past 5 years Tony has been playing in the championship section with The Medway Towns Band
conducted by Melvin White.  Currently Tony plays soprano cornet with the 1^st Whitstable Scouts Band. He plays with Jeff Moore's Premier Brass and of course is very much looking forward to his new position on flugel horn with Cantium Brass.

In his spare time!  - Tony plays at weddings, celebration parties, last posts and reveilles. He organises and plays with his own jazz quintet, equating jazz improvisation to `high speed chess`.

Tony remains enthusiastic and inspired. He says that although he has a passion for music he `has never really understood it` and wryly comments `playing the trumpet is like having a Jack Russell terrier. When you think you have tamed it and it loves you - it bites back`.

In conclusion, it may be said that Tony is eclectic with his music, ever rising to the challenge of all the types of music he is capable of producing, be it on trumpet, flugel horn or piccolo.