HOLSWORTHY Town Band has a new conductor. After 50 years playing with the band, 34 of them as conductor, Derek Kidby has handed over the baton to Tony Jones with whom he has been sharing the role since last summer.

From 1982 he shared conducting with George Daniels then became sole conductor in 1990. Derek will continue to play in the band and Tony Jones has paid tribute to him for his ‘50 years of unrelenting and unfailing service to the band’.

Tony, who comes from Ebbw Vale, joined the army in 1982 as a musician and both studied and taught at the Royal Military School of Music at Kneller Hall. He has a music degree and plays the trombone, euphonium and harp and was a regimental harpist at a number of prestigious occasions.

He has been training players of all ages and abilities as a result, new players have joined and the band has continued to improve. The band invites anyone wishing to learn or return to brass banding to its rehearsals on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Anyone interested is asked to contact the band’s secretary Derek Moorley on 01409 241033 or email [email protected]

Following the great success of the band’s Battle of Britain Concert last October, it is currently preparing for a concert for Armed Forces Day in the HATS theatre at 7.30pm on June 25.

For this musical extravaganza the Holsworthy Town Band will be joined by Launceston Town Band and Torridge Male Voice Choir.