Reigning Scottish champion Exchange Communications Whitburn, has been through a busy period of late.

Awards, successes and new signings have sat alongside its regular appearances at Murrayfield for the RBS 6 Nations championship.

Horn history

Their horn section recently created a little bit of history after they took the podium places at the Besson Scottish Solo Championships.

20 year old second horn player Rachel Neil became Scottish Solo Champion, beating four time winner Iain Fleming and Michael Fleming to the title.

Iain gained revenage by winning the Scottish Slow Melody Championships, whilst Rachel was second.

Happy

Rachel, a third year BEd. student at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, told 4BR: "I'm really happy with the result and even happier that our section did so well."

It is understood that it's the first time players from the same section of one band have taken the all the prizes at the event. Rachel's achievement marks the sixth time a Whitburn player has won the title in the past ten years.

I'm really happy with the result and even happier that our section did so wellRachel Neil

Clean sweep

Meanwhile, Iain has now completed a clean sweep of domestic solo titles.

He added: "I'm delighted to finally win all the titles. There's life in the old dog yet especially with such great players like Rachel and Michael pushing me all the way."

Player of the Year

Rachel also added the Whitburn 'Player of the Year' Award to her CV too, whilst Ray Munday, the band’s assistant principal cornet, was named 'Bandsman of the Year'.

The band enjoyed performing at the recent RBS 6 Nations match between Scotland and England and will be on show again at the forthcoming match between Scotland and France.

New signing

Meanwhile, Tom McCrone has joined on Eb Bass in time for the Scottish Championships. Tom joins after Robert Fraser moved north to take up the position as brass tutor for Aberdeenshire Council.

Scott Forrest has also returned to the soprano chair after a spell with the band on cornet.