The Hitchin Band has announced that the experienced Martin Heartfield has kindly agreed to take them to the London & Southern Counties Area Championships in Stevenage in March. Martin is MD of the Skelmanthorpe Band, who he will be taking to the Yorkshire Area contest.

Looking forward

A spokesperson told 4BR: We are delighted to welcome Martin to the band where he will be ably assisted in preparations by the great team of Martin Hurrell, Paul Mayes and Phil Judge.

The band has risen from the Third back to the Championship Section is just six years and we are therefore looking forward to our first venture in to the top flight for more than 30 years."