About Trombone Support | Designed for Brass Players

Our Story

I was born in Blackpool, Lancashire, and migrated to Australia in 1971 as a “Ten Pound Pom.” My musical journey began at sixteen, when I joined the Blackpool Town Band as a cornet player. I was immediately drawn into the world of brass bands—regular rehearsals, marching practice, and Sunday summer concerts in the park—which laid the foundation for a lifelong connection to music.
After settling in Sydney, I continued playing with the Willoughby Brass Band, performing in concerts and contests throughout the region. This led to an invitation to play second trumpet with the Willoughby Municipal Orchestra. Highlights included performing at the opening of the new Willoughby Town Hall and appearing at the Sydney Opera House in a program featuring the works of Gilbert and Sullivan.

By the early 1980s, my musical interests expanded to include the saxophone and flute, and I immersed myself in the technical and musical challenges of both instruments. However, for nearly two decades, my playing took a back seat as I focused on establishing and growing a leather goods manufacturing business—an endeavour that demanded creativity, precision, and long-term commitment.
At the turn of the millennium, while living in Byron Bay on the NSW North Coast and running a successful manufacturing operation, I returned to music in earnest. I joined a Big Band and performed throughout the Northern Rivers, reigniting my passion for live performance.

During this period, I formed a close friendship with a fellow trumpet player, and together we created a 10-piece Soul Band. What began as a casual conversation evolved into an ensemble that has remained active for more than twenty years. Shortly thereafter, we formed a swing band, The WellSwung Daddies, which continues to perform today.

Both groups can be found online at:
www.soul-band.com.au
www.wellswungdaddies.com

In 2013, I sold my leather business and officially retired—only to discover very quickly that retirement was not for me. I have never been someone who could remain idle for long. Instead, I set myself a new challenge: to invent a product, manufacture it, market it, and distribute it independently.

That decision led to the development of SaxSupport, followed several years later by BrassSupport, which has since evolved into instrument-specific products such as Trombone Support. The inspiration came directly from my own experience as a musician and from observing the physical demands placed on players by heavy instruments, particularly during long rehearsals and performances.
Through extensive research into the ergonomic challenges faced by brass and woodwind musicians, I developed a range of support systems designed to reduce strain on the neck, shoulders, back, and arms. Today, these products support players across the full spectrum of saxophones and brass instruments, offering a practical, engineered solution to a common and often overlooked problem.
My lifelong involvement in music, combined with decades of craftsmanship and product design, has shaped a simple philosophy: if a problem affects musicians, I want to invent something that genuinely helps.