Foss Dyke Brass Band are delighted to announce the appointment of David Dernley as their new Musical Director.

Foss Dyke chairman, Nigel Bevan, said it is with great pleasure that, as the Chair for the Foss Dyke Band, I welcome Mr David Dernley as our newly appointed Musical Director. Dave’s connections with the band, as a musician (well as a percussionist!), go back a number of years; I will not say how many to save the blushes. So Foss Dyke are welcoming back a family member who went away to develop his Musical Director prowess. Now that this has been achieved, and with a proven record as can be seen with his time spent as the Musical Director with Market Rasen, he has returned home.

The Band are keen to start back, when Covid allows, and look forward to playing under Dave’s baton. Our aim is to make music fun and enjoyable whilst establishing ourselves as a force to be reckoned with in the 1st Section.    

Dave, the Committee and the Band warmly welcome you. Now over to you to start the challenge of making us great once more.

Band manager Garry Ornsby expressed his delight in Dave’s appointment. “The band are extremely happy with the appointment and can’t wait for the first post Covid rehearsals to commence. The band are looking forward to becoming a promotion prospect within the First Section”.

David Dernley added; I have spent seven fantastic years with Market Rasen Band and shall be forever grateful to them for their friendship and for the great memories I shall take with me. 

It does however feel like the right time to accept a new challenge and the chance to conduct Foss Dyke Brass Band provides me with an exciting opportunity for several reasons. 

Firstly, I played percussion with the band back in the 1990s and have followed the band’s ups and downs with interest ever since.  In the last year or so the band has taken very positive steps on the organisational side of things and on rebuilding the band which I’m sure will pay off in the long term.

Secondly, taking up the baton with a first section band will provide me with a personal challenge to develop and build on the successes I enjoyed in recent years thanks to Market Rasen Band.  But without doubt the greatest sense of privilege will come from the honour of being able to stand in front of the band previously conducted by the late Walter Ritchie. 

David Dernley praises the work of former Foss Dyke Musical Director Walter Ritchie

As MD of the Foss Dyke Brass Band for 21 years, Walter led us from Fourth to Championship Section, staying at the helm until 2005.


I received some invaluable tuition and guidance from Walter when I began conducting.  I always admired him for his musicality and no-nonsense approach in the band room and I was lucky to have enjoyed his friendship and that of his family both during my time as a member of the band and beyond. 

My aspiration is to emulate the musical standards, success, and stability the band enjoyed in previous years under Walter, so that the full potential of the current band can be realised. I am looking forward to a day when the current troubled times are behind us so I can meet the band in full and we can get cracking.