West of England Area champion Flowers will be aiming to build on the excellent form they showed at the major contests at the end of 2019 by regaining the Butlins Mineworkers Festival title on the weekend.

The seven time winner will head to Skegness boosted by the arrival this week of Belgian cornet star Harmen Vanhoorne.

Welcome return

He makes a welcome return to temporarily replace principal cornet Jamie Smith who will be making his conducting debut with Hade Edge Band in the Second Section. Harmen is no stranger to Flowers as he played with them at the 2015 Albert Hall National Finals and Brass in Concert.

Speaking to 4BR about the move, Flowers MD Paul Holland said that it was great to be able to work with Harmen once more — especially as in a few weeks time he will be heading to enjoy a new banding life in New Zealand.

"I couldn't have asked for a better sub for the contest than Harmen,"he said.

"Like Jamie he is a world class performer and his playing style fits in with the band perfectly. He didn't hesitate to help us out even though he is packing his suitcases for his move!"

I couldn't have asked for a better sub for the contest than HarmenFlowers, MD, Paul Holland

Seat warm

He added: "We wish Jamie every success and await his return in plenty of time for the West of England contest in Torquay.

In the meantime though Harmen will keep the seat warm and we are determined to give him a fitting send off over the weekend before his to New Zealand!