How to get in touch with us
If you have any questions or would like any more information, you can contact us as below.
Justine SpenceThe Secretary, Northern Recorder Course
142 Peverell Park Road
Plymouth
PL3 4NF
Telephone: +44 (0) 1752 257455
About us
The Northern Recorder Course is run by David and Justine Spence.
David Spence was first taught recorder by Dennis Bamforth at William Hulmes’ Grammar School in Manchester. David went on to study recorder to Diploma level at Stockport Recorder College, which was founded by Dennis. David was the leader of the Bass 2 section of the Manchester Recorder Orchestra for twenty years until the combination of living in Plymouth and having a young son meant it was no longer practical to drive up for rehearsals! David continues to be an active recorder player a little closer to home these days. He is a member of the Chamber Recorder Orchestra of the West and is Chairman of recorders@plymouth, a very active recorder playing group based in Plymouth. Outside his musical activities, David is an Optometrist and has many interests from developing websites to collecting electric clocks
Justine Spence’s early recorder teachers include Tom Hutton and Brian Bonsor, both of whom instilled an enthusiasm for playing the recorder that has never dimmed. She studied recorder to Grade 8 but has always regretted not practising her scales enough. Justine particularly enjoys playing in recorder orchestras and has played in several, usually in the Contra Bass section. These days Justine’s Rheumatoid Arthritis limits her ability to play but this has freed up time for her to introduce some new recorder courses. As well as administrating the NRC and many other recorder events, Justine is also the Administrator at her local church. She spends more time at a computer screen than her Rheumatologist would like!
David and Justine run many recorder events together, taking turns to play and to look after their young son. Their events are run on a not for profit basis so that as many people as possible can enjoy them. David and Justine do not take any remuneration for their time spent organising the courses – they do it because they enjoy it!