As Lynn Hampson, she started at Kingsfield School in Sept 1974. Keen to learn an instrument, she was offered a limited choice of a trumpet or a violin - so essentially no choice ; she arrived home with a trumpet. Prior to double glazed windows, the attempted C major scale ‘noise’ drifted across the road to her neighbours Steve and Liz Hill who suggested Lynn come along to a brass band they attended at the Shaftesbury Crusade in Barton Hill….. Never wanting to be left out, a few weeks later, her 9 year old sister Claire also joined and there started their love of playing.
Jim Scott was a great Musical Director - his conducting style was SO clear to keep the band on track, the left hand V or C sign coming around the band over the top of music stands to clearly direct players into second time bars or Coda….
There were also more desperate times with lots of hand flapping and Ssshhh signs when we clearly weren’t following the diminuendo! Despite being so encouraging of young players, Jim still fought for perfection in the band’s performances, repeating a few bars in rehearsal until it was right - and pre concert (sometimes at the last minute) occasional players were told to ‘leave it out’ if it wasn’t up to his standard!! Pencil markings and reminders were always encouraged - which we still do to this day! And it’s still lovely to bring out a set of music stuck on those old cereal packets - sometimes with the key signature trimmed off !
Lynn also remembers Jim’s Dad Jock playing trombone, and sometimes even younger brother Dave helping out on cornet when he was in Bristol.
There were a few years when full time work and a young family meant having a break from playing, but Lynn is again loving to play with Filton Community Brass