Before he enjoys the delights of being stuck in a box for hours at the Royal Albert Hall on the weekend, Derek Broadbent has been enjoying a bit of relaxation with old friends in Spain.

Derek was on holiday last week in Villa Martin, visiting Ian and Sandra Gibson and Gordon and Sylvia Higginbottom who play with Just Brass.

New march

Instead of coming armed with some tea bags and HP Sauce for the ex pats, he had tucked under his arm a new march, which he presented to the band last Thursday at their rehearsal in San Miguel.

Derek remarked how he was surprised by the standard and quality of the band and if they ever needed his services he would be only to pleased to fly acrossIan Gibson

Standard

Ian Gibson told 4BR: "Derek remarked how he was surprised by the standard and quality of the band and if they ever needed his services he would be only to pleased to fly across."

Ian added: "Whilst the band has improved greatly over the past 12 month we now have vertually a full strength brass band except for a few more cornet players, plus it would be nice to have a few extra players to cover for when people pop back to the UK."