The afternoon concert at Chorley Town Hall on 10th May will be the occasion on which the Leyland Band will formally acknowledge and congratulate former Music Director Richard Evans for over twenty successful years of continuous service by appointing him Music Director Emeritus.

Without parallel

In the years between 1980 and 2001, Richard took the Leyland Band on eighty two occasions to the five major UK contests, securing eleven first prizes and fifty other prizes. In addition he fronted the Band on a further 600 or so times at concerts, broadcasts and recordings. It is a record without parallel in modern brass band history.

Highest honour

The names of Leyland Band and Richard Evans are synonymous throughout the banding world, and this appointment is the highest honour the Leyland Band can bestow.

Wonderful invitation

Richard told 4BR: "The invitation from the Band gave me a wonderful buzz and it was not without emotion that I took in the ramifications of this wonderful invitation."

Richard added: "The love I still have for the Leyland Band, and the great sense of achievement we have all experienced in the on-going life of our Band is evident to all who are connected; may it last forever! With proud honour I accept the offer of the title ‘Music Director Emeritus’."