Colin Toghill
Colin started his playing career with the Loughborough Town Band at the age of eleven. After six years he moved to the William Davis Band (championship section) on Principal Eb Bass, this was a position he held for thirteen years under the direction of John Berryman and Keith Wilkinson, Harry Mortimer, George Thompson to name but a few. he then moved to the reformed Birmingham School of Music ( Hyundai Heart of England), playing 1st Baritone for two years.
He then took up the baton with a local 4th section colliery band called South Midlands Welfare based in Coalville in Leicestershire, this was to be a valuable learning curve, learning the basics of conducting and band training, within four years they were promoted to the 2nd section, having won 27 contests on the way, including the Midlands Area / Pontins Finals / National Coalboard Finals / Entertainment Contests.
Based on his success Colin was offered the post of MD with the Nottingham City Transport Band (2nd section) and the Blidworth Colliery Band (3rd section), this was to be a very busy period being MD of both bands at the same time, again there was much success winning numerous contests including the Midlands area with both bands on the same day, Nottingham were promoted to the Championship Section and Blidworth to the 1st Section.
Colin took up the position of MD with the Ransomes Band (Championship Section) conducting at many prestige concerts and contests including the Grand Shield in Manchester.
In 1996, Colin moved to Cornwall where he became MD of the St Dennis Band where he and his partner Nina set up a training scheme for youngsters, within a short time they had 70 youngsters learning to play brass instruments many of which are now playing with top bands throughout Cornwall, Colin has also taught in schools as a peripatetic brass teacher. Whilst living in Cornwall Colin has had a happy association with the Lewis Merthyr Band in Wales gaining them promotion from the 1st Section to the Championship Section.
He has also played with Camborne and Mount Charles Band as well as guest conducting appearances with Bodmin and Mount Charles Band.
Colin took up the position of MD with us in the summer of 2007. After being at the helm for only a couple of months, the band won the Exmouth Entertainments Contest.