TCTC Group Band Announce Retirement of Band Stalwart

TCTC Group Band are announcing the retirement of one of the movements greatest bandsman from its bass section – Alan Smart.

Alan reaches his 60th birthday this year and has been playing for 50 of those years, Alan has been a corner stone of several well-known bands from the North West after an early career in the RAF. Whilst starting on cornet as a lad, it wasn’t long before Alan took to the Euphonium and then over the last 25 years to Bass. As a soloist, several awards have been gained at entertainment contests getting Alan an outstanding name in the brass band world as a player but his greatest contribution has been his loyalty and tireless effort to improve every organisation he has been part of.

A servant of the band for well over 20 years after joining from the BT Band in Stockport, Alan has helped create a professional and positive atmosphere for us all to enjoy and thrive. In his roles as Band Manager and Contest secretary, the organisation has had a great example set to us all by a very special bandsman.

Jane Smart (Alan’s wife), served the band well over this period taking on Concert Secretary duties and helping smooth transitions for many players who stepped up to the management team. Jane’s efforts have been first class for the band.

MD and General Manager of the band, Jef Sparkes, told A4B: ‘For me as the Musical Director, Alan has simply been outstanding! He is one of my closest friends, a fantastic sound board to my thoughts and a solid bandsman throughout his years with us. We really could not have asked for more and I hope that his involvement with the band will continue behind the scenes for many years to come.
Alan Smart will always be thought of in legendary terms at TCTC Group Band, happy retirement Mr Smart.

We have known of Alans wish to step down for a short period now, so work has been going on behind the scenes to make the retirement as smooth as possible as the position is not an easy one to fill. I can now announce that a partnership between myself and my playing partner at Foden’s Band over 30 years ago is to be realised again.

The band welcomes Ian Betteridge to its bass section this June. Ian is a graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music and a past Principal Tuba of the Foden Band in Sandbach. More recently, after returning to the UK from America where he lived for several years, Ian took to playing again locally and we’re glad he did. Welcome to Ian and our very best wishes to Alan and Jane Smart.’