A trio great European experience.

James Scott

James Scott is the oldest surviving European Championship winning conductor — now 94 years of age. He led Brighouse & Rastrick Band to the title in London in 1981.

He made his last appearance at the contest in 1992 conducting Newtongrange Band.

Denzil Stephens

Meanwhile, Denzil Stephens will be 90 years of age in September, and holds the record of not only being the first man to conduct Cory Band to the European title in 1980, but also being the only conductor born in the Channel Island of Guernsey to lead a band at the contest.

He made his last appearance at the 1986 contest conducting Parc & Dare Band.

Howard Snell

The next oldest surviving European winning conductor is Howard Snell, who will be 83 in September.

In leading Desford Band to the 1986 title he changed the face of the own-choice element of the contest with his startling arrangement of 'Daphnis & Chloe', whilst in 1989 he conducted Eikanger to their maiden historic European victory — a feat repeated the following year.

His fourth European title came in 1992 with Foden's Band and made his last appearance as a conductor at the contest with Eikanger in 2002.