Ian was born in Newport, South Wales in 1968. With his father serving in the Royal Navy aboard HMY Britannia he was brought up in Portsmouth. Aged 11 he was introduced to the Cornet at school by Henry Capper, a local peripatetic music teacher. Played for several local bands including RBL Victory Brass, Lucketts Travel (Southsea) and, whilst a member of H.M.S Nelson VCC, played for the Royal Naval Volunteer Band based there. Whilst at City of Portsmouth Boys’ School, Ian obtained the ABRSM Grade 8(Distinction) awards in Music Theory, Cornet and Trumpet. He auditioned for, and was awarded a place on the Hampshire County Pre-Professional Music Course gaining the London University Double ‘A’ level music qualifications. Ian studied trumpet with Alan Pring and Rodney Senior (Principal Trumpet, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra). Spent two years as trumpeter with Havant Symphony and Chamber Orchestras.

Following college, Ian gave up playing trumpet for several years due to time spent travelling around the UK as a manager with a national retail company. Eventually settled in Ramsgate joining Kent Police in 1993. Ian spent the first part of his career based at Canterbury before six years as a Constable and Sergeant on the force Dog Unit handling several police dogs. He is currently based at Margate.

Ian finally fell back in love with the trumpet and now, work permitting, performs for the Railway Swing Band, Betteshanger Brass Band and chamber brass group Kent Brass as well as guest appearances for other local groups.

Ian is married to Louise and has two boys, Jake aged 7 and Rhys aged 11. Rhys is already proving to be a far better trumpeter than his dad was at that age having already passed Grade 4 ABRSM with Distinction!