There are moments in life where different parts of your world collide in the most extraordinary way. Winning the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain 2025 with Desford Colliery Band was one of those moments for me — not just as a player, but also as the supplier of the band’s famous purple and lilac uniforms.

To stand on the stage of the Royal Albert Hall, surrounded by band mates you’ve rehearsed, travelled, laughed, and grafted with, is something every brass band player dreams of. To be crowned National Champions of Great Britain is indescribable. Although, in true brass band fashion, I didn’t actually hear the results announced in the hall — I was in the pub. When the news broke, it was a rapid sprint back for the photos, trying to process that we were National Champions before the adrenaline had even caught up.

Many apologies to the poor girl I dismissed not once, not twice, but three times while she tried to tell me we’d won. It took photographic evidence on her mobile phone before I finally believed her. So sorry… and thank you!

That scramble, the disbelief, and then seeing the band together again as champions somehow made the moment even more surreal.

More Than a Uniform

A band’s uniform is never just clothing. It’s identity. It’s pride. It’s tradition. And at the very highest level of competition, it’s also about confidence — stepping on stage knowing you look every bit as good as you sound.

The Desford colours — that unmistakable purple and lilac — are bold, distinctive, and unapologetically Desford. Supplying those uniforms wasn’t just another job for me; it was deeply personal. I know the history of the band. I know what those colours mean to the players, the supporters, and everyone who has worn that badge before us. The responsibility to get it right mattered.

Seeing those jackets under the lights of the Royal Albert Hall — sharp, unified, and proudly worn — was a moment of quiet pride amidst the chaos and emotion of the contest.

Wearing Two Hats

Being both a player and a supplier is a rare position to be in. On the one hand, you’re focused entirely on performance — notes, nerves, ensemble, and expression. On the other, you’re acutely aware of the finer details: fit, finish, and how the band presents as a collective.

That dual perspective is something I’m incredibly grateful for. It reinforces why I care so deeply about what I do off the stage as well as on it. I understand what banders need because I am one of them.

A Champion’s Choice

At the very top of the brass band world, every decision matters — musical direction, preparation, teamwork, and presentation. To know that our uniforms were part of Desford’s journey to becoming National Champions of Great Britain and something I’ll always be proud of.

This wasn’t just a win for the band. It was a reminder of why passion, craftsmanship, and understanding your community matter. When musicians design for musicians, the result speaks for itself.

A Moment I’ll Never Forget

I’ll always remember the messages coming through, the rush back from the pub, and the sight of the band together again — knowing we’d achieved something truly special.

National Champions.
On stage.
In purple and lilac.

A choice of champions indeed.