Party hats and streamers have been the order of the day recently, as the horn section of Whitburn Band celebrated 150 years.

Kicking off the party season was the relative baby of the section, Alan Edmond, who was 41 on Boxing Day 2007. Solo horn, Iain Fleming reached the 50 year milestone on 23rd January, followed by Alex Vidler who was 59 the next day.

Remarkably, their combined age is greater than the entire back-row, even when the band’s flugel horn, Jim Chamberlain, is added to the young cornet section!

Remarkably, their combined age is greater than the entire back-row, even when the band’s flugel horn, Jim Chamberlain, is added to the young cornet section!4BR

Contest experience

The trio have amassed an amazing amount of contest experience, with no less than 82 top section regional qualifiers, 46 British Open’s and 49 appearances at the Royal Albert Hall.

They now look to put this experience to good use, as Whitburn prepare to add the strangely elusive Scottish Championship prize, to its current Scottish Open Championship title, at the forthcoming contest in Glenrothes on 9 March.

Mix

Commenting on behalf of the section, Band President, Alex Vidler declared: "The mix of youth and experience at Whitburn is paying dividends and we would like to build on last year’s successful contest season by adding the 2008 Scottish Championship."

Rumours that all three players were presented with slippers, comfy cardigans and a free supply of Horlicks were denied by the band...