Yvonne Gargett - Principal Percussionist

Yvonne started playing cornet at the age of 11 at Vinovium Secondary school, under the tutilege of Alf Liddle, who introduced her to the Durham County Band. During this time she also played for West Auckland Band on cornet and horn until she was 18.
She then joined Brancepeth Band on horn and was solo horn there for 8 happy years.

In 1983 she joined Cockerton Band playing 1st horn and after 2 years moved onto solo horn for many years. Fancying a change she decided to learn to play percussion and has done ever since. She still plays horn, flugel or cornet if necessary, once playing principal cornet in the 1996 Area’s, helping to qualify for the finals!
Yvonne has also played in a pop band and sang in a duo. She is currently lead singer and drummer with the Midi Dance Orchestra (MDO) and to let her hair down she plays in a rock band called the Weardaliens for fun.

PS - don’t ask her about paragliding.

Beth Steel - Percussionist

Beth started playing for Cockerton Junior Band on cornet in 1993, aged 6, taught by both John and Neil Parkin. After having a break from playing for a year, because her two front teeth fell out, she restarted playing on tenor horn, after being duped by John Parkin into thinking that this was a good choice as the horn tune a day book was a “nicer colour”

Beth started learning to play percussion at 13 under the tuition of Yvonne Gargett. Her two proudest moments in her playing history include winning the Best Percussion trophy in 2003 and achieving a grade A in Alevel Performance of Music on Drum Kit.
As well as playing with Cockerton, Beth has also played with Darlington Youth Brass Band and Spennymoor Youth Band. She initially played with Cockerton for 11 years before taking a break to play with Fishburn Band for two years where she gained many new friends and skills.

Beth is now back home at Cockerton Band and is currently at the University of Teesside, studying for a degree in Early Childhood Studies.

Stephen Fletcher - Percussionist