One conductor certainly looking forward to conducting 'Seascapes' on the weekend is Chris Jeans, who will be hoping to lead GUS Band to an unprecedented double hat-trick of Midland Area wins at Bedworth Civic Centre.

The work has brought back many fond memories for the star trombonist who succeeded Adam Cooke in the MD role in November last year.

Albert Hall victory

"I played solo trombone with Desford Colliery Band when we won on the piece at the Royal Albert Hall way back in 1988,"he said.

"We were all much younger then, but I still remember so vividly — with the late James Watson at the helm. It was the second of our hat-trick wins and we beat some great bands that day, including the then Britannia Building Society Band under Howard Snell who followed us onto the stage."

We were all much younger then, but I still remember so vividly — with the late James Watson at the helmChris Jeans

Enjoyed

He added: "I've really enjoyed getting to grips with the piece once again and the band is playing so well.

I've thought about that performance 31 years ago quite a lot when looking at the score and how great James Watson was in inspiring us. We ended up with 198 points that day so if we can emulate that I will be very happy."