There was a surprise find for members of City of Chester Band as they recently went about a spring clean of their instrument stock.
Purchased in 1996 with the aid of National Lottery funding, they have been well cared for, so it came as a shock when Band Manager Matthew McCleary and Treasurer Robert Fletcher took them to be overhauled.
Repairer Jon Roberts found that one instrument puzzled him — after he detected a blockage in an Eb tuba. Using an endoscope camera Jon spotted something shiny where all should be clear — and found that a pair of sunglasses had travelled over 180Ëš along the tubing from the bell of the instrument. Thankfully, he managed to extract the spectacles intact, much to the relief and embarrassment of their owner, Robert Fletcher, and to the great amusement of his band colleagues. Robert was given no opportunity to deny they were his either, as Matthew went to Rob's Facebook page and found a photo, taken a few years ago of him sporting the said sunglasses! Thankfully, he managed to extract the spectacles intact, much to the relief and embarrassment of their owner, Robert Fletcher, and to the great amusement of his band colleagues4BR
No denying