Whitburn has announced the retirement of their highly respected flugel player James Chamberlain.

Jim has decided to step down due to reoccurring embouchure issues symptomatic to the condition of focal dystonia.

Leading performer

Although a proud Englishman, he has been rightly regarded as one of the leading performers in Scottish banding for many years, claiming numerous solo and instrumentalist awards as well as being a regular featured soloist in concerts and CD recordings.

Jim will continue to work on rebuilding his playing whilst enjoying his increasingly successful conducting tenure at the Dalkeith & Monktonhall Band, who he has led from the Third to the Championship Section in the space of just five years.

Quartet of new players

Meanwhile, on the eve of their appearance at the Brass in Concert Championships, the band has also announced the arrival of four new players to boost the ranks.

The prize winning duo of Caroline and Charlie Farren join from rivals Cooperative Funeralcare on flugel and bass trombone respectively after 22 years of joint service to the band, whilst the talented Lloyd Griffin comes in from Newtongrange on cornet, and Sheena Glass completes the bass section on Eb tuba from Johnstone.

Jim is an immensely popular and well respected figure in Scottish banding and at Whitburn in particular, and we look forward to a continued association with him long into the futureDave Kinross

Respected

Band President David Kinross told 4BR: "Jim is an immensely popular and well respected figure in Scottish banding and at Whitburn in particular, and we look forward to a continued association with him long into the future."

He added: "We are also really happy with the quality of the new signings we have made. Not only are they first class players, they are excellent bandspeople who will add an enormous amount to the organisation."

Delighted

New signing Charlie Farren added: “Caroline and I are delighted to take the opportunity to play with Whitburn. We look forward to the new challenges ahead and hope to help add to the bands success.”