At the end of March, Silk Brass said goodbye to one of its most talented players, when solo horn Les Manning put away his mouthpiece for the last time.

Turned 50

Les has been with Silk Brass for six years, but when he turned 50 he felt that the time was right to retire from banding, buy a shiny new motor home and take off around the country at weekends and holidays – something the demands of banding wouldn’t allow.

Last performance

Les started playing at the age of 11 at school, before progressing to the Royal Doulton, Greenway Selectus and the BT Band, before finally joining Silk Brass, where his last performance was to help them to qualify for the finals of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain for the second year in succession.

Les has thoroughly enjoyed his banding career but he looks on the time he has spent with Silk as being extra special.

Les told 4BR: "The last three years at Silk under Jim Cant have represented some of the most enjoyable times in my banding life. Silk Brass are also a great advert for how banding should be."

The last three years at Silk under Jim Cant have represented some of the most enjoyable times in my banding lifeLes Manning

Huge thanks

A spokesperson for Silk Brass added: "We would like to say a huge thank you, to both Les and his wife Alison, who has been a staunch supporter of the band over the years. Although they won’t be strangers, Silk will miss them both and wish them all the best with their new hobby."