A LONG-ESTABLISHED brass band believes it has appointed the youngest conductor in the country.

Keen biker Connor Gingell, 19, has taken charge of the decades old Chorley Silver Band and it is hoped he will lead them into a new exciting era.

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Band chairman Andrea Hall said: “Not only is Connor almost certainly the youngest brass band conductor in Britain, but as his other interests include motorcycle racing, we think he is probably the fastest as well.”

Connor also plays with Wingates, one of the country’s foremost competition bands.

Andrea said he made great progress in his first weeks in charge and she was confident he could lead Chorley Silver Band to new heights.

“Connor was an outstanding candidate for the position of conductor and with his enthusiasm and skill has already had a big impact,” she said.

“The band are launching a recruitment drive as we already have a reputation for bringing through young talent.”

Chorley Silver Band has been in existence for many decades and the youth band was officially formed in 1996.

The majority of players are between 11 and 18 but older brass players are made welcome to share their wealth of knowledge.

The band recently appeared at the Derian House Lights of Love event at Blackburn Cathedral, and over Christmas played a number of carol concerts at supermarkets and community centres in the area.

Andrea added: “As another locally-based charity we have been consistent supporters of the great work which Derian House does and we were very pleased to participate.

“We have always had a reputation as being a pillar of the local community and are probably best known for our frequent and successful fundraising concerts for charities in the Chorley.

“We perform at various parades, fetes and walking days throughout the county and in the past we have travelled further afield, performing at the Menin Gate as part of a music tour of Belgium.

“We are a registered charity and we take great pleasure from playing to a local crowd.”

By the year 2000, Chorley Silver Band was in difficulty with falling membership and flagging finances. It’s remaining members, anxious that Chorley Silver Band continued to promote Brass Band Music in the town, agreed to the Youth Section becoming Chorley Silver Band.

The Band regularly entered competitions such as the ‘Brass at the Guild’, the North West Championships and the Whit Friday Marches, gaining prizes at all of them. More recently they entered the National Youth Championships at the Royal Northern College of Music and gained a creditable bronze award. All this with an average age of just 12 years.

During the year the band takes bookings to play at different venues, keeping vital revenue coming in. Summer and Christmas are an especially busy time when they are marching and carolling at venues across the North West.

For details of the band’s summer programme and the recruitment drive visit its website at chorleysilverband.org