4BR has spoken to Alan Wycherley following the news that the star soprano player will be making a return to major championship contesting at the British Open next month – and returning to extend a possible unique post war record.

37

Alan will make his 37th consecutive appearance at the contest playing with Fairey (Geneva) Band, although on this occasion he will not be heard playing soprano, but assistant, assistant third percussionist!

After returning to playing following his recent health scare, Alan is taking things easy and will help out in the percussion section, although he believes he will have to put in just as much practice if he is to be of any use to the current English National champions.

Brilliant job

"Michelle Ibbotson is doing a brilliant job for the band, so there was only one option left for me, if I wanted to maintain my record," he told 4BR.

"Playing assistant to the assistant, assistant percussionist may seem easy on paper, but it is perhaps the hardest thing I’ve ever done for a British Open. It certainly gave the band a shock to see me holding two bass drum sticks over a xylophone at the first rehearsal!"

It certainly gave the band a shock to see me holding two bass drum sticks over a xylophone at the first rehearsal!Alan Wycherley

First appearance

Alan made his first appearance at the British Open with Fairey back in 1974 on ‘James Cook’ and notched up consecutive appearances with them until 1986.

He then had one year with Desford before a long stint with Leyland that took him up to 1999. He then enjoyed a decade or more with Foden’s before returning to his first banding home for the 2011 contest.

Four wins, three positions

In the process he has won the contest on four occasions, but strangely will be making his third appearance on a different instrument this year, as he also played 3rd cornet on 'Connotations' in 1983.

"I had just come out of hospital then," he recalls. "So this isn’t something I haven’t done before!"

Nearest rival?

4BR has looked back through the post war records and cannot find a player who may have beaten Alan’s record, with even his great friend and Fairey colleague Brian Taylor falling short. "He told me he missed an Open with a bad back some years ago," Alan added.

So a record it is then – or is there someone out there who knows any different?