The famous banding name of Ever Ready will reappear later this year on contest and concert programmes following the news that 14 years of outstanding support to the North of England Area champion from The Vardy Foundation is to come to an end.

Evocative

The current name will take its final bow with the band at the Royal Albert Hall in October before it reverts back to perhaps its most evocative former identity — one that it previously used with pride from 1969 to 2003.

Return

A band spokesperson told 4BR: "For the past 14 years, we have received generous financial support from The Vardy Foundation and its patron Sir Peter Vardy who has been, and will continue to be, one of the band's greatest supporters.

The band has secured considerable financial support from other sources which allows it to return to its old name — one which has great heritage, success and provenance amongst the banding community and beyond."

Thriving future

Part of that success under the Reg Vardy name has come with the band's outreach work in the local community, giving musical support to schools, training bands and also bands in the lower sections.

The spokesperson added: "This is work which we will continue to extend over the coming years under the name of Ever Ready in the hope of encouraging and developing a sustainable, thriving future for the banding community in the North East of England."