Mike Westwater (lead Alto & clarinet)

Started playing clarinet, and later sax, whilst a student in Edinburgh. He then played with the Climax Jazz Band & Mound City Jazz Band. Work then took Mike to Oban, where he played for several years with the Calum Ross Band. On moving to the Borders Mike met and played with other local musicians and was a founder member of the BBB. He formed the Tweed Valley Jazz Band (originally part of the BBB) and now plays with Edinburgh based band - The Dave Keir Hot 5. Mike regularly transcribes & arranges number for the band.

Steve Lilley (alto & clarinet)

A native of Belfast, Steve began learning the clarinet by attending evening classes at the City Of Belfast School of Music at the age of 11 from 1971 and achieved grade 8 in 1977, aged 16. He also played with the Reid Memorial Silver Band in Belfast for 10 years playing all types of percussion ( incl. tuned percussion Glock, Vibes, Xylophone, Timpani ) Steve joined a military band in 1981 playing clarinet & sax until he moved to Scotland in 1989. He then joined the BBB in 1992, and is currently in charge of the purse strings as band treasurer.

Alasdair Graham (tenor)

Al started playing with the Lyndsay MacDonald Quintet in Glasgow. On moving to the Borders he joined the Waverley Hydro Dance Band and also formed his own quintet. During his time with the BBB al played with the Tweed Valley Jazz Band and also plays with Berwick based band Night Rhythms.

Sam Lord (2nd Tenor Sax)

During her youth Sam played for a variety of concert bands including North Yorkshire Schools County Band. She also gained orchestral experience in York Light Orchestra. In 1988 Sam graduated with a BA (Hons) majoring in music and then went on to do her PGCE specialising in Music.

She has had experience of directing, arranging and writing music for a variety of groups including handbells, recorders and clarinet choir! Sam currently runs a ceilidh group of players aged 13-22 out of Amble and they take part in many different events. She also set up and organises Coquet Music Festival which is in its tenth year. She has been asked for the second year running to be an adjudicator for the Rotary Club Musician of the Year Festival in Berwick. She currently plays for stage musicals in the borders, is principal clarinettist with Berwick Concert Band, plays clarinet for Scottish Borders Community Orchestra, and also plays tenor sax in Berwick based band Night Rhythms. Sam's day job is as Head of Music at Coquet High School in Amble.

Daniel T. Ward

(the 'T' is apparently very important!) (baritone sax) Began playing under teacher Ronnie 'Fingers' Kerr, in Peebles, then joined his first band - The Gut Bucket 7. After 6 years playing with the Royal Scots military band, including one year at Kneller Hall, Dan returned to the Borders and played with many local dance bands. Dan has become well known locally for fixing jazz bands (among other things!) and more recently has formed his own group 'Jazz-a-Ward' which frequently features Glasgow banjoist Alastair MacDonald. Dan has recently returned from spending several months in Australia - apparently the Four X brewery just couldn't keep up with the demand during his stay !!! We are all delighted to have Dan back with us ( a sentiment echoed by the Scottish brewery trade)