Andy began learning the side drum at the age of 12 at the now defunct Mickleover RBL Pipe Band in Derby and was taught by Rod Masters and John Ferrie. He took over the role of leading drummer of the Mickleover Band at the age of 18.The drum corps had several successful seasons in competition during his tenure, culminating in the win for the drum corps at the 1980 World Championship in the grade 4 competition.

In 1981 Andy took a job teaching the Pipe Band drummers of Sultan of Oman’s Land Forces Pipe Band and taught both the North band, based in Muscat and the South band based in Salalah. This involved a weekly commute of over 2,000 km.

On his return to the UK in 1991 he played with Beeston and District in Grade 2 and then, at the invitation of PM Pat Lee, took over the drum corps at the Grampian Corby Pipe Band, who were looking to their first season in grade three. The band achieved grade 2 status in 1994 after two successful years in grade 3. Andy took the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association structured learning course and gained the Advanced Certificate in 1993, he has since taught the Beginner and Intermediate Structured Learning Courses on several occasions at courses organised by the Midlands (England) Branch of the RSPBA. In 1995 Andy was forced to leave the band due to work commitments.

After an eight year sabbatical due to these work commitments Andy took over the drum corps at the Nottinghamshire Police Pipe Band, two years later they won the drumming awards at the Scottish and Cowal Championships.

Andy is now pleased to be playing and helping out with the drum corps at the University of Bedfordshire Pipe Band.

Andy's main influences on drumming are, Alex Duthart, Tom Brown, Jim King and Paul Turner.

Away from Pipe Bands, Andy enjoys listening to Moving Hearts, Christy Moore, Nick Drake, Kate Rusby, Weather Report and Joe Zawinul to name but a few. Andy has re-kindled a long lost desire to play more than three chords on the guitar and is practicing hard on his breaks from drumming and will surely soon be up to four or five chords.

The family has just given Andy a new Bodhran for his birthday, lovin' it!!