Young players from local area around Tredegar and Ebbw Vale enjoyed a morning of inspirational tuition from players of the Band of the Welsh Guards on the weekend.

The community outreach event came after the Guards Band performed in a joint Saturday evening concert with the 2019 Welsh Champion Tredegar at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff.

Eleven youngsters aged from 7 to 16 enjoyed individual and group teaching from Musicians Amy Herman, Stephen Bucknall, James Lawler and Lance Corporal Adam Hirst, led by Bandmaster WO2 David Hatton.

Wonderful gesture

Tredegar Band Manager Hannah Rogers told 4BR: "We enjoyed a great concert with Major David Barringer and the band on Saturday evening.

It was a wonderful gesture that the players then took time out of what was to be a long journey up to North Wales later in the day to stop off and provide this great community event.

The youngsters who came from our organisation and the Ebbw Valley Academy were thrilled and the approach given by the players was so supportive and encouraging."

The youngsters who came from our organisation and the Ebbw Valley Academy were thrilled and the approach given by the players was so supportive and encouragingTredegar Band

Stronger connections

In response WO2 David Hatton, said: "We are keen to make stronger connections to the Welsh communities were proudly represent and from whom we have traditionally recruited players.

As a former player with the Tredegar Junior Band it is great see them and Ebbw Valley encouraging a new generation of youngsters to come through and enjoy playing in a brass band.

The talent in Wales is incredible and we hope we can do our bit to help develop it further over the coming years."