PETER BUCKLEY (conductor 2004-present)

Peter was born in Coventry but moved to St Annes when just 3 years old. He went to Clifton Primary School and then to King Edward VII School, Lytham where he first met and studied music under John Simpson, the previous conductor of Fylde Sinfonia.

Although Peter’s initial interest was with the violin and piano, he switched to drumming when aged 12. He soon established himself as kit drummer with LYSTAL (Lytham St Annes Light Orchestra), and timpanist / percussionist with the Blackpool Symphony Orchestra where he continues to play. In the 1980s, Peter was the kit drummer for the Methodist Association of Youth Clubs National Orchestra and regularly performed in major venues such as The Albert Hall and Royal Festival Hall in London. By contrast, he also drummed through several seasons in a Blackpool night club.

Peter went straight from school to work in the I.T. industry but after being made redundant in 2004, he decided to pursue a career change into music and taught drums & percussion privately at his home and running African and Samba drumming workshops in schools throughout the North West. Peter is also the councillor for St Annes North on Lancashire County Council. He is married to Karen and they have two grown-up children.