4BR has been informed that a very special soprano cornet has gone missing at the recent Butlins Mineworkers Contest in Skegness — and the distraught owner would like it back.

Missing

Julian Holling of the Kippax Band left his Schilke soprano with a rare Beryllium bell and gold valve tops, bottoms and slides in its black leather gig bag with a series of mutes, only to find that it had gone missing.

Gold valve tops

And despite numerous requests and inquiries, he has yet to find out what has happened to it — although he thinks it may have been picked up by mistake by another player and loaded onto a band bus.

The instrument is pretty unique and has the serial number 43853, so if it does turn up at a bandroom, can someone return it to meJulian Holling

Mistake

He told 4BR: "I can't think anyone in the banding world would have deliberately nicked it, so it must have been loaded onto a band bus and forgotten about. The instrument is pretty unique and has the serial number 43853, so if it does turn up at a bandroom, can someone return it to me. I will offer a reward and would just like it back — no questions asked!"

So if you do know anything about the instrument, please contact Julian at: Julian-Holling@phoenixs.co.uk

He will be a very happy sop player if you do!