There could be something of contesting curse hanging over the Tullis Russell Mills Band it seems.

Five times in a row

At the recent Land O Burns contest the band had to yet again perform minus a player, as for the fifth time in a row serious illness struck just hours before they took to the stage.

Hospital list

This time it was cornetist Jane Nicholson who was rushed into hospital with a serious back problem – the latest in a series of misfortunes that has seen their soprano player succumb to a serious ear infection, the bass trombonist laid low by a burst appendix, the solo trombone hospitalised and the repiano cornet player stuck in his sick bed with suspected appendicitis – all just a few days or even hours before they played a note in anger at the last five contests!

The band have become very adept at moving players at the last minute, but it’s really a problem we could well do without. We may be signing up with the local GP for complete health checks the night before our next contestTullis Russell Mills

Reshuffle

Thankfully, MD Martyn Ramsay has been able to successfully shuffle his playing resources at the last minute – and still produce a winning performance.

Despite the problems at Troon the band went on to record a highly encouraging result – coming fourth overall, beating a number of higher graded bands and pocketing £700 of prize money.

Adept

A band spokesman told 4BR: "The band have become very adept at moving players at the last minute, but it’s really a problem we could well do without. We may be signing up with the local GP for complete health checks the night before our next contest!"