He was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2010 Queen's New Years Honours List for his services to music.
In 1976, he became the principal trumpet in the London Symphony Orchestra. His playing can be heard prominently in the film scores of Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977), Superman (1978), and the "Indiana Jones" movies.
He began playing the cornet at the age of six. His father, who was his first music teacher, was in the local Salvation Army band.