In February last year former Fairey Band baritone player Keith Muggeridge was making his early morning drive to work at Waddesdon School near Aylesbury. The previous night had been very cold, leaving some ice patches on the road.

Life threatening

Unfortunately Keith's car skidded on one of these and hit a tree — destroying the front of his vehicle (above) and leaving Keith with life threatening injuries.

Fortunately however, the car in front of him was driven by a surgeon from the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford who saw the accident in her rear view mirror and immediately contacted the Air Ambulance Service.

Between them they managed to revive Keith and get him quickly to the hospital where he was treated — although initially he was put into an induced coma. He was later transferred to Northampton General Hospital and in May 2015 was moved to the Royal Leamington Spa Rehabilitation Hospital, where he made his long-term recovery

Love of bands

However, Keith told 4BR that his life-long love for brass bands also played a central part in his recovery process.

"I was eventually moved to another rehabilitation centre in Weston Favell, Northampton,"he said. "Ironically this was a mile or so from the Virtuosi GUS Band bandoom, with whom I'd been enjoying playing baritone with before my accident.

I had been given the chance to play at that level again for the first time since my fantastic days with Fairey when I was lucky to be part of the band that won the British Open, Masters, Brass in Concert and the North West Area in the 1990's.

In fact, my accident happened a week before the 2015 Area and the wonderful Jayne Murril stepped in and played for me when Virtuosi GUS went on and won.

I spent a further four months or so in rehabilitation, literally learning to walk again and remembering how to do everything.

However, being able to play the baritone has been a vital part of my recovery and I've been so fantastically supported by everyone at Towcester Studio Band who let me play second, second baritone as I struggled to get back to some sort of playing form.

Virtuosi GUS has also been a superb help and it has been another vital part of my recovery to go down and see friends and ex-colleagues there too. Their win at the Area and the Masters this year has given me a huge boost of confidence."

New chapter

Although Keith has now had to retire as a classroom teacher his banding life has taken on a new chapter.

"Brass banding has always been such a huge part of my life and it has been the one thing that has given me hope and a way forward,"he said.

Fund raising concert

As a personal show of the immense thanks to all those who have played a part in his long road to recovery, a concert is being held on October 22nd at Christ the Cornerstone Church in Milton Keynes, featuring a 10 piece ensemble made up of players from Fairey and Towcester Studio Bands, alongside soprano cornet soloist Martin Britt.

Brass banding has always been such a huge part of my life and it has been the one thing that has given me hope and a way forwardKeith Muggeridge

Raise money

Keith added: "The purpose of the concert is to raise money for the amazing Air Ambulance Service to say a big thank you to them and everyone else for what they do for people when they have such serious accidents. I was so surprised to find out that they are a charity who relies completely on contributions from the public.

If it wasn't for them I would not still be here and Towcester would be without an aspiring second, second baritone player!"

Further details of the event will be published on 4BR.