After five years at the helm Robin Norman has announced his resignation as Musical Director of the Ipswich and Norwich Co-op Band.

Success

His tenure at the band has seen one of the most successful periods in the bands history with promotion to the Championship Section, taking part in the First Section National Finals, gaining a placing at the Butlins Mineworkers Championships and being crowned the 'Champion Band of East Anglia' for the first time in their history — a title they retained earlier this year.

This on top of a hectic concert and rehearsal schedule which has seen the band gain a reputation for its high quality and innovatively entertaining concert schedule.

Career change

Robin told 4BR: "I'm really sorry to have to relinquish my position with the band after five fantastic years. However I have recently undertaken a change of career and this has meant that, unfortunately, I can no longer commit to the 170-mile round trip twice a week plus concerts."

I will miss the band a great deal where I have some great friends and nobody will be supporting them going forward more than meRobin Norman

Friends

He added: "I will miss the band a great deal where I have some great friends and nobody will be supporting them going forward more than me."

Robin will continue to conduct the band until a replacement is found and an announcement as to which way his banding future lies will be made in due course.