Robert started his musical career in the mid seventies playing trombone with the Barnsley Metropolitan Brass Band. Over a three year period the band progressed through the ranks from youth to second section.At this point Robert became a member of the Carton Main Frickley Colliery Band, where he stayed for two years playing the countries concert halls and competing in top level brass band contests gaining many prizes including first at the ‘Granada Band Of The Year’ contest.Following his time with Carlton Main, Robert left brass banding and moved to dance band, becoming a member of the Johnny Mann Show Band, a Sheffield based group playing the north of England’s clubs and dancing venues.

In the late eighties Robert moved  back to banding and joined the Hade Edge Band, enjoying many successful concert and contesting years, the bands achievements at this time included  Radio Sheffield’s ‘Bold as Brass’ champions, two years in succession.The early nineties saw Robert move back into the championship section to join the Stocksbridge Steels Band. He stayed with Stocksbridge until 1996 when he became a member of the newly formed ‘Harlequin Brass’ a ten piece orchestral brass ensemble.While in Harlequin Robert has toured the UK and Europe, also making television appearances on ‘Songs of Praise’. While still a member of Harlequin, Robert has had the pleasure of becoming principal trombone with ‘The Brass Players’.