Karen has been playing since she was 8 years old when she learnt the cornet at primary school. After playing with the orchestra at Okehampton College she joined HSB in 1989. Most seats in the Cornet Section have been occupied by Karen but she has now settled on Solo Horn.

Life is very busy as a Farmer and Financial Adminstrator for an Educational Trust, she is Mum to 3 children and is also a Cub Leader. Hobbies include music, bellringing, eating, drinking, cooking and kids, but can't eat a whole one.

Eleanor moved to Hatherleigh in 2010 and enjoyed listening to HSB marching past her house. A year later she took up the band's offer of an instrument loan and tuition and joined the band.

She has previously played viola in symphony orchestras and tenor and bari sax in swing, show and student bands and now finds brass banding a lively and fun experience.

She has enjoyed the challenge of learning to play a brass instrument at a slightly older age...! She is a full time vet too!

Val started playing at the age of eight years old on cornet with Okehampton Excelsior Silver Band, moving to tenor horn where she played in the solo seat for many years. After being married to Mike Isaac (Eb bass, Hatherleigh) for 24 years, she finally decided to join him in Hatherleigh and is now enjoying a new challenge playing 2nd Tenor Horn.

Val's other hobbies are tennis, walking on Dartmoor and reading.