Last Updated: Wednesday 26th May 2010 @ 07:36pm
Getting to know him... Mr Martyn France
Since an early age Martyn has always enjoyed playing a brass instrument. Being brought up through the Salvation Army, his grandfather, father and both uncles have been bandmasters at some time or other. At school, instead of being in class, you would find him in the music cupboard, sorting out the next school production, or organising the music for assembly. He then moved up through the ranks of the Salvation Army music world, finally playing EEb Bass in the local Salvation Army Band in Hemel Hempstead, where his father served as bandmaster for 39 years.
He then moved to Aberdeen, Scotland in 1982, and again settled into Scottish Brass Banding quite quickly and joined the local band, UDI (Brass) Aberdeen. Through becoming conductor for a local competition his appetite was wetted for conducting. He spent a year as the President of the Northeast Scotland Brass Band Association, organising competitions, solo/quartet competitions, and the local area finals. It was hard work, but gave him an insight into how the Brass Band movement works. When Martyn moved back home to Hemel Hempstead, he linked up with the local band Atlas Copco (now Hemel Hempstead Band), and played Euphonium, Trombone and Baritone and really enjoyed his time there.
When the position of MD at Watford Band was advertised he jumped in with both feet, and helped to return the fun aspect of making music to this well established band. He brought different music to the band, some quite taxing, some very modern up to date music, and some very well established Brass Band music, and the hard work and dedication of the Players was very much noticed.
In September 2007, Martyn joined Moulton, and is determined to improve the bands contest and concert performances, whilst bringing in energy and enthusiasm to the band, to take it forward in the forthcoming years.
All the members of the band, welcome Martyn into the band.
