Richard Evans conducted Wingates Band to victory at the British Open in 1975, and BNFL Band on their win in 1994.

Highlight

"The highlight has to be my first Open as a conductor with Wingates in 1975.

We were practicing on the day of the contest at the Long Sight Pub, which was on the entrance to Belle Vue. Before the day the players were a bit apprehensive about our chances, especially as ‘Fireworks’ was so different to what they had normally played.

Having been drawn 22 we decided to go and have a listen to the first seven or so bands, and on the way back my players were smiling like Cheshire cats.

Up until then they thought it was only them who found the piece hard, but having listened to a few bands they then realised just how good their were actually playing!

I also remember some bloke in the audience whisper behind my back as we took to the stage – “Who’s the poncy bloke in the cravat then?”

I remember giving him a look after we played – his face was a bloody picture."

Harold had got it totally wrong – it sounded as if the horse had got cramp at the end of each bar!Richard Evans

The flip side

"A little sad and a sign of the times really.

I played solo cornet with Leyland on ‘Tam O’ Shanter’s Ride’ in 1956 under the great Harold Moss – a lovely bloke.

We knew we weren’t going to do very well of course, but it didn’t help that when it came to the 8/8 rhthym as the old horse bolts away, Harold had got it totally wrong – it sounded as if the horse had got cramp at the end of each bar!

We had never come across 8/8 before – nowadays it’s so common and so we didn’t know how the music went. We weren’t the only band to get it wrong on the day, but it shows just how far the bands and conductors have come in over 50 years."