Morecambe Brass Band’s musical director lands new role with famous Band of the Grenadier Guards

But British Army captain, Andrew W Porter’s remarkable career has hit new heights after he landed a top job with what many regard as the ‘pinnacle’ of military bands – The Band of the Grenadier Guards.

As director of music, Andrew will be centre stage at major ceremonial events including Trooping the Colour and the State Opening of Parliament.

“I'll be leading the band on every parade you would see in London,” he said. “It's a most prestigious appointment and a very big honour. My family and the band up here in Morecambe, everyone I know. is just bursting with pride. The family joke with me that everything that I've done in my last role has just been one massive audition for the role I'm about to commence.

“I'm feeling absolutely thrilled – but it is just my job and I'm proud to do that.”

‘Just doing his job’ has seen Andrew involved in some of the UK’s biggest occasions – The King’s Coronation, the FA Cup Final, the British Grand Prix and the British Motor Show and of course, the biggest state funeral of all for Her Majesty the Queen.

“With the Queen's funeral that was the longest salute in my life ever,” he recalled. “I was up in the position of salute for about 15 minutes, maybe longer. I just remember my arm was giving in and shaking in front of me, and I thought, ‘I can’t drop my arm now’. So the biggest salute of my career was also the longest and most important one for Her Majesty.”

Andrew, who lives in Carnforth, will remain as musical director of Morecambe Brass Band, which has undergone something of a renaissance during his five-year tenure.

Leading the band to the National Brass Band Championships Finals for three successive years – with the next finals coming up this September – only scratches the surface of what he and the band have achieved since he joined in 2019.

The band has rebuilt, climbed the brass band leagues, reached out to a new generation of potential musicians and has something to offer all different ages and abilities, including those who don’t want to participate in competitions.

Andrew, whose wife has played with the band for many years, paid tribute to their achievements.

“I think the world of them,” he said. “They say it's because of my hard work that they have got where they are, but they forget that they have been part of that too. For me, it's just a big team and what I'm trying to do is encourage them. There’s been fantastic progression.”

Morecambe Brass Band secretary, Pauline Bateson, said: “Huge congratulations to our musical director, Andrew W Porter. We are all very proud of him at Morecambe Brass Band and delighted as he will be continuing as our musical director.

“We are going to the Brass Band National Finals in September for the third year in succession, and it’s due to Andrew’s guidance and skill that we've got there. We are very, very lucky, he is a fantastic musical director.”