Claire started playing cornet in the school brass band some (few) years ago and stuck with that until sometime later when she discovered the delights of the flugel. She progressed through various local bands, eventually ending up at Berisfords in Congleton. The attraction of Berisfords was all the more sweeter due to the fact she sat next to Alan Gooder, soon to become her husband. Alan also plays in Silk Brass on the back row. Claire had a successful period with Berisfords playing in three National finals - winning twice. She's also participated in tours of Austria and Portugal.

Claire is one of the key soloists in the band and has recorded 'The Children of Sanchez' on the album 'A Decade of Silk'. She also works tremendously hard behind the scenes with the administration of the band, the production of the bands' magazine -"Intouch". She also controls the band library with military precision. At this years annual band dinner she was voted by her peers for the award "Bandsperson of the year" for the third consecutive year.

"When I sat next to Alan on the front row at Berisfords - devoting your life to banding became a pretty extreme way of getting a brass band to play at your wedding!!!!"