Back in early 1992, Gina Sheridan and Paula Gilford shared a dream, they wanted to learn to play a steel pan. Being determined individuals they took action and joined an adult education course, to learn how to "play pan". After a few weeks they had a tune and things progressed, slowly but surely. By June 1992, the girls began to think seriously about forming their own band and after undertaking some promotional work, attracted a number of like minded enthusiasts. So, in September 1992, the Comets Steel Band was formed as a social group; who had aspirations to play the wonderful and captivating musical pan instruments. Gina and Paula's dream became a reality.

Since then they have strived to meet the highest possible standard in both musicianship and attitude. The band has been noted as ‘musically outstanding’ by various festivals they have entered and has won acclaim for their originality. Today, they are a skilled and highly professional ten piece all women band whose repertoire caters for a wide range of musical tastes, from the traditional ‘Soca’ sound, to Pop, Jazz and Ballads – Classical to Avant-Garde.

Supported by the Metropolitan Police, they gig on a regular basis and entertain at a variety of venues and events that includes weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, school fetes, and Corporate events UK wide. 1998 and 2000 saw Comets touring in Barbados. Speaking to Gina she about the tours she said, ‘we can truly say that we have sold coals to Newcastle or was that Calypso to the Caribbean?’
Their musical director, Jason Butcher, is responsible for all their musical arrangements; is a well known pan tutor for schools in the Croydon and South East London area. Comets released their first CD entitled, ‘Panache’ in 2000 to a very warm reception and are currently working on their second, to be released later this year. 

Comets played at the Croydon Music Festival, in May 2001 and in addition to meeting a wide array of very talented pan players of all ages, they were absolutely thrilled to win the adult section of the competition. In 2002, the Comets Community Project was established with some National Lottery funding that has helped in the establishment of their pan yard located at the Pan Pavilion, South Norwood Lakes and their vision to encourage and teach the young people from their local communities the steel pan art form.  Interested then visit their website at www.cometspan.co.uk, email Gina at comets@panpodium.com or call Gina on 0208 406 4814.