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.
