Fingers and Frets

Phyllis Davis

Phyllis joined the orchestra as a guitar player in the early 1980s, then a few years ago she taught herself to play the mandolin. She decided to move across to the mandolin section but still keeps her hand in playing the guitar at barn dances and with John Hopes when the two of them play afternoon concerts

Fred Edwards

Fred was a former member of a Banjo, Mandolin & Guitar orchestra in Crewe, run by Brian Jacklin, until he moved south a few years ago.

We'll try and find out some more info about Fred and let you know! In the meantime why don't you read some more about the other members?

John Hopes

Born into a musical family (grandfather singer, mother singer & pianist, father singer & flautist), John sang in choirs and as soloist for over 45 yrs from aged 7, commencing study of music & voice production with Prof Conway Pearson, continuing for 9 yrs with Robert Fredericks, both of Bristol. He sang in the "Novello Players" production of 'Glamorous Nights'. Also he studied piano accordion with Prof Handel Lovell for at least 4 yrs.

Having met Jim Stevens of Bristol, a fine exponent of self-accompanied style of mandolin playing, John became most interested and studied music & history relating to this enchanting instrument. His particular interest is in ensemble playing and he was for several years mandola player with 'Savante Mandoliers' under direction of Madame Underdowne of Cotham, Bristol. John was also with 'Percy Poole Serenaders' and joined Bristol BMG Club as mandolinist until their demise in early 1970s.

In mid 1970s John was a founder member & musical director of Fingers & Frets and has continued to date. He has over the years made contact with mandolin interests in Italy and collected examples of music, information & instruments of the mandolin family.

Wally Mead

My first contact with a musical instrument was when I joined John Hopes' evening class to learn to play the guitar and find out what those black dots were for. From that time I was hooked, playing guitar and later mandolin in the orchestra. I took over as conductor of F&F and also conducted the Banjo, Mandolin & Guitar group that met monthly at Theale near Reading and which was made up of players from the London and Bristol areas.

Having left F&F to pursue a solo interest of playing guitar and singing, I returned to the fold in 2006 and am thoroughly enjoying playing again with these excellent musicians.

Peter Oldham

Peter works abroad most of the time in the poorer but sometimes more exotic parts of the world. He first heard of the mandolin while reading Captain Corelli on a train in India. When being posted to Pakistan's North West Frontier he decided he would teach himself to play the mandolin to help while-away the long evenings. He bought an old round-back for £60 but after a week the neck broke. A local furniture-maker glued it back together and for further strength, Peter bound it with string.

This was the instrument he brought with him when he joined Fingers & Frets to play 2nd mandolin in August 2000. He continues to carry it around the world and we hope it serves him well in Afghanistan

Bob Pepper

Bob first picked up a mandolin at the Bristol Folk House in 2004 and decided he wanted to try and learn to play the instrument. Carelessly not having learned to read music in his tender years, he is now discovering what those five horizontal lines with funny dots and sticks mean (he says he has decided that the squiggly shape at the left hand side of every line must mean "banjos play loud at this point"!!).

He is looking forward to seeing the introduction of some transatlantic influences on the repertoire of the orchestra – did you know there were more mandolins in the homes of the western settlers than any other instrument - have you tried tying a piano on a horse?

Bill Smith

Bill started to learn to play with members of the Bolton BMG Club after attending one of their concerts at a very tender age. Everyone in the club orchestra played a banjolin and Bill's came with him to Bristol in the 1960s and, in the intervening years, came out of the wardrobe for a couple of hours each Christmas! Pleased to be introduced to F&F in 2006, he is now busy re-learning, arthritic fingers and all!

June Smith

June is Fingers and Frets’ Treasurer and joined the orchestra in the 1980s as a guitarist, but since 2003 has been indulging a passion for mandolin with encouragement from John Hopes! She originally studied piano but was lured to strings at the age of 12, taking up classical guitar and developing an interest in folk, electric and jazz guitar over time and studying theory and technique with Mike Watson.

Alan Mate

Alan's surname is very apt because since the departure from the orchestra of Frank Taylor due to ill health, he is the only mandola player and is therefore looking for a mate!!

Are there any budding mandola players out there please?

Neil Gow

Neil joined the orchestra in September 1976. He became interested in guitar while doing National Service and was inspired by meeting and hearing Segovia at Bristol Colston Hall. His main hobby is raising funds for the RNLI and he arranged for Fingers & Frets to play at the RNLI 175th anniversary celebration held at Clifton College some years ago.

Neil has unfortunately been unable to play with the orchestra for quite a while due to ill health but we hope he'll be able to return in the not too distant future.

Barbara Grove

Barbara joined the orchestra so long ago that she can't remember when but thinks that it was soon after Tony's arrival!! The trouble is, if you go to Tony's page you'll not be any wiser as he hasn't yet written his profile. Barbara didn't actually write this so the 'editor' has decided to do some updating herself in the hope that it will prompt more members to put pen to paper!!

Miranda Pring

Miranda has recently joined the orchestra.

Hopefully she'll be writing a paragraph or two soon about her guitar playing

In the meantime, take a look at some of the other members.

Mark Thomas

Mark joined the orchestra in 2007.

He has promised to write something about himself to go with his photo.

In the meantime, take a look at some of the other members.

Brian Venables

Brian joined the orchestra in 2006 with his electric bass guitar. His bass playing will provide a strong beat and keep the orchestra playing in time!

Now in his late 50s, Brian had a classical music upbringing, his parents being orchestral. He learnt piano and violin up through the grades and also dabbled in the woodwinds. He is self-taught on the mandolin and bass guitar and has played classic rock and blues for many years. He came to Fingers & Frets seeking to develop skills in all types of music, although he says he is, and always will be, a blues man at heart who can "rock".

Sandra Woodruff

Sandra joined Fingers & Frets early in the 1980s after learning to play the guitar through Soundwell College adult evening classes at Longwell Green Community Centre. She took over as music librarian at the beginning of 2007. Sandra organised several trips to Denmark for the orchestra to take part in the Ballerup Music Festival and also the return visits of the Danish Mandolin Orchestra Magiba.

Sandra is secretary of the National Banjo, Mandolin & Guitar (BMG) Federation committee. If you're interested in finding out more about the BMG Federation, go to the Links Page and you'll find it listed under 'Instrument Related Stuff'.

Tony Counter

Tony is rather vain as he insisted on having a new photo taken for the updated website. He has been with Fingers & Frets for so long that his hair has turned grey.

Tony is Chairman and tries to keep orchestra members in order at the Annual General Meeting.

Mike Lock

Mike has been secretary of the Fingers & Frets for several years now and takes all the bookings for concerts and barn dances.

If you would like to make a booking or you have an enquiry, please use the contacts page.

Gordon Jennings

Gordon is the drummer and also the publicity officer and has been with the orchestra since 1994 having spent a year or two at the Drumbank Studios and with Jazz workshops.

Whilst several drum elements are present in the Fingers & Frets repertoire, ie a variety of rhythm patterns are played including latin, 4/4, barn dance jigs etc, as yet there's no rock!

Because of the ensemble sound produced, there's not much light & shade variation required in the percussion; obviously there is a lesser need to play loudly here than when playing behind horn sections!

Peter Cox

Peter came along with his English Concertina to help out at a Barn Dance and has been with the orchestra ever since!!

He is very active on the concertina front and is involved in various festivals & events.