John Berryman (Photo: originator not known – if it is yours then please let us know and it will be credited or removed)
John Berryman’s involvement with brass bands began when he was aged eight. It was with Camborne Town Band which was not surprising as his father had been an accomplished trombonist there for some years.
In 1952, John was playing when Camborne won the top award at the West of England Bandsmen’s Festival. He recalled this being his first contest. “We had a great day at the contest and I have vivid memories of marching down Trelowarren Street, from the Centenary Chapel to Commercial Square, with all the trophies and with the streets lined with cheering Cambornians who then assembled in the Square whilst the band played a march and a hymn tune. These were certainly glory days. All very exciting stuff for a young lad.”
John joined the Cornwall County Youth Brass Band in 1955 as its principal cornet. Later, the reference to it being a county was dropped and it became the Cornwall Youth Brass Band. His rapid progress saw his acceptance as a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and his appointment as its principal cornet. Many years later, in 1989, and again in 2003, John returned to the Cornwall Youth Brass Band – as guest conductor at its residential course and concert. A few years later he became its President.
John moved to the principal cornet seat at Camborne and in 1956, at the age of 16, won the best-instrumentalist award at the Cornwall Brass Band Association Annual Contest: the first of a hat-trick of such awards at this particular contest.
On the 15th June 1957, at the 33rd West of England Bandsmen’s Festival, the test pieces were Grand Selection, an arrangement of Haydn’s work by William Rimmer, and the Symphonic March Silvio by Mancini, and Camborne Town under Fred Roberts, collected both first places and, of course, the Royal Trophy. The West of England Bandsmen’s Festival, affectionately known as Bugle Contest, was a happy hunting ground for the band but what also made this year notable was the Best Player award being made to its young principal cornet, John Berryman. He repeated this feat the following year when Camborne again collected the top award for its playing of Cavalleria Rusticana. John has the distinction of being the only person to have played, conducted and adjudicated at this contest.
John Berryman receiving his Best Player award at Bugle in 1957
Shortly after, John joined the famous Munn and Felton Band (later GUS Footwear) under Stanley Boddington, becoming the National Champions of Great Britain on three occasions. John occupied the principal cornet seat for ten years and during this time he toured many countries including Switzerland, Denmark and Holland.
From 1966 to 1968 he was the leader of the famous GUS Quartet, winning a hat trick of National Quartet titles. The GUS Quartet – John Berryman, David Read, David Cobley and Trevor Groom were triple British Quartet Champions. (Photo: originator not known – if it is yours then please let us know and it will be credited or removed)
A highlight of his solo career was appearing as guest soloist in the Gala Concert at the Royal Albert Hall.
John was a full-time tutor of brass instruments for Northamptonshire County Council for 29 years with responsibility for directing and training its very successful County Youth Brass Band.
In 1987 he was awarded the prestigious Iles Medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians in recognition of his services to the brass band movement and in 2004 he was awarded the All England Masters Dedicated Service Award.
John Berryman, Guest Conductor of CYBB for which he was the first principal cornet in 1955 (Photo: originator not known – if it is yours then please let us know and it will be credited or removed)
As a conductor, John has enjoyed considerable success in partnership with a number of top-class bands including GUS Virtuoso and with Cornish bands Camborne, Bodmin (1969 to 1974) and Helston when in April 2022, they won the second section at the Regional Brass Band Championships of Great Britain and secured promotion to the first section.
John is one of the Cornish brass band movement’s favourite sons and it is always a delight to see him back and conducting one of its bands.