I joined a men-only brass band – and met my husband

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In 1971, Jackie Walker was only the second woman to join the Woodbridge Excelsior Band in Suffolk.

Although meeting a boyfriend wasn't Jackie's aim, the ratios were in her favour.

"There were several [boys] in the band that used to turn up outside my parents' house in their cars to pick me up on a Tuesday night for band," said Jackie, who grew up in nearby Martlesham.

"Gradually as more girls joined they all liked Andrew…. I was the one that got him."

Andrew had joined a few months before when there were no girls in the band, after responding to an advert.

"It needed to get some new blood in, they were all very elderly gentlemen," he recalled.

The couple married in 1978 and have continued to play together, with Jackie going on to be co-musical director.

"It's the best thing you can do," Andrew said about being in the band.

"You're with your friends, playing good music, going out places, what more do you want out of life?"

As the band prepares for a special concert marking their 180th anniversary, the line-up of musicians looks quite different.

They have 20 men and 12 women, with a mix of ages.

Kayra plays tenor horn, having joined aged eight.

"I think it's such an honour to play and I love telling people about it," the 17-year-old said.

"[The instruments] are all kind of beautiful pieces… I always think it's amazing how basically piping can make such wonderful noises!"

Tilly Crookall, 20, plays cornet and said: "I just love finishing work and then coming here and seeing all my friends and just playing different music."

The band was formed in 1846 as the Woodbridge Temperance Band, changing name to the Excelsior Band in 1916.

Tom Morris is co-musical director, alongside Jackie Walker.

He told BBC Radio Suffolk: "People come from different walks of life; a lot of people are retired, a couple of students, people who work full time.

"They come to let off steam, to enjoy the music, to meet their friends, so it's trying to mould all those together as part of an organisation

"We have a completely full band and we actually have extra members now which I don't think has happened many times in the history of the band, so the future is bright and the band's healthy."

The band are performing a free anniversary concert at 14:30 on Sunday at Woodbridge Community Hall.

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