Woodbridge brass band celebrates 180th anniversary – and romance

“In those days it was said that women or girls didn’t have enough puff to be able to play a brass instrument, so brass bands were all men.”

In 1971, Jackie Walker was only the second woman to join the Woodbridge Excelsior Band in Suffolk.

Although meeting a boyfriend wasn’t Jackie’s aim, the ratios were in her favour.

“There were several [boys] in the band that used to turn up outside my parents’ house in their cars to pick me up on a Tuesday night for band,” said Jackie, who grew up in nearby Martlesham.

“But no, I set my sights on Andrew.

“Gradually as more girls joined they all liked Andrew…. I was the one that got him.”

Andrew had joined a few months before when there were no girls in the band, after responding to an advert.

“It needed to get some new blood in, they were all very elderly gentlemen,” he recalled.

The couple married in 1978 and have continued to play together, with Jackie going on to be co-musical director.

“It’s the best thing you can do,” Andrew said about being in the band.

“You’re with your friends, playing good music, going out places, what more do you want out of life?”