Philip Watson
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Philip Watson was born in Kendal, Cumbria (then Westmorland) and began his music making at the age of eleven within the Brass Band tradition. He enlisted into the Junior Leaders Regiment at Bovington in 1975 - 1977, then went on to the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards in 1977 and served with the Regimental Band as a cornet player. After completing his musical studies at the Kneller Hall (pupil course 1981), he served with his band in Germany, Denmark, France, Holland, Belgium, Italy, Canada, Falkland Is. and Cyprus as well as the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Philip studied both the clarinet and saxophone and has performed at many international, national and local musical events.
During the 1991 gulf war, Philip served as a medic with B Squadron of 1 Armoured Field Ambulance and on his return was posted to the Band of the Royal Dragoon Guards where he held the post of Trumpet Major. Later he served with the Hussars and Light Dragoons (1994) and finished his service in military bands with the Kings Division Normandy Band (1995 - 2005).
Philip is an Associate of the London Collage of Music (A(Mus)LCM) and was awarded a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree by the Open University in 2003. He has also undertaken development courses at the Royal Military College of Science and with Bristol University.
Philip has worked in a voluntary capacity as a Social Policy Co-ordinator for the Citizens Advice Bureau, representing their interests on the North West Regional Committee.
Philip was made a Freeman of the City of London in 1992 and was appointed to the Fylde Coast Bench as a Justice of the Peace in 2007.
Philip was appointed to the post of Development Officer at the British Federation of Brass Bands in 2005 on his retirement from the Army. Since then, he was also appointed to the board of the Voluntary Arts Network in 2008.
