Port Sunlight Lyceum Brass will celebrate its 50th anniversary later this month — aided not just by special guest soloist Les Neish, but also by the world premiere of a special fanfare written for them by Edward Gregson.

Model band

The band was formed in 1973 in the heart of the historic 'model village' built by the famous Lever Brothers in the late 1880s to accommodate its soap factory workers.

They have been an integral part of the community ever since and continues to have a busy concert and contesting schedule, returning to the North West Regional Championships in 2022 after a decade long break.

Ralph Peters, who co-founded the band is Edward Gregson's cousin, and so he was delighted to write the special 'Celebration Fanfare' which will open the concert on Sunday 24th September.

Busy time

Eddie told 4BR: "It's been a busy time of late with a world premiere of my 'Viola Concerto' at the Presteigne Festival now followed by this lovely premiere with Port Sunlight. I told Ralph that I haven't written another fanfare for anyone else, so I'm really looking forward to hearing it played.

All this and I'm really honoured to have been asked to conduct the first movement of my 'Tuba Concerto' featuring Les Neish, who is a quite wonderful performer."

Time and place

Port Sunlight
Celebration Concert
Guest Soloist: Les Neish
Sunday 24th September — 2.30pm
Gladstone Theatre
Port Sunlight