Deborah started playing the trombone at Chapel School Band, under the directorship of Sheila Walton in 1979. When she moved into the sixth form at New Mills School, Deborah was invited by Brian Taylor to play 2nd Trombone at Thornsett Band. Thornsett band

at this time were a successful second section band, and Deborah played with them as they won the Area contest twice and hence played at the Nationals in London. After a short break for a couple of years, while Deborah studied for her OU degree,she moved to Normid 2000. After meeting her husband Jonathan at a Pontins Contest one year, she joined the village band where the newly weds moved to. She enjoyed her time with Winterley Methodist Band, ( a non contesting band), but had to leave for the birth of her twin girls Alexandra and Emily. At this time Deborah was also playing with Silk Brass; so playing with two bands and looking after two new babies proved a little too much for the self proclaimed domestic goddess from Sandbach, and therefore she left the Winterly Band.