There was a wonderful meeting of Brighouse & Rastrick musical minds ahead of the forthcoming National Final in London as the band's Professional Conductor Prof David King paid a visit to James Scott at his home in Merseyside.
1973 winner
Prof King was joined by Keith Hollinshead to meet the man, now aged 94, who memorably led the West Riding Band to the title in 1973.
The visit saw the duo discuss all things brass banding as well as take a closer look at the score to this year's set-work, 'Titan's Progress' by Herman Pallhuber.
James Scott's link to the National Championships is one that stretches back well over 80 years in fact — back to the pre-Albert Hall era when he performed as a youngster at the iconic Crystal Palace before the Second World War.
He later played at the contest as principal cornet with the likes of Munn & Felton before leading the Cammell Laird Band to a remarkable second place finish in 1965.
Freedom
Other top-six places came in 1964, 1966 and 1969, before his name was etched into the history books when he led Brighouse & Rastrick to victory on Hubert Bath's 'Freedom'.
Further top-six success came in 1974 and 1975 with the West Riding band, as well as with Foden's in 1978, Grimethorpe in 1980 and 1983, Yorkshire Imperial in 1985, 1987 and 1988 and with Whitburn in 1989 and 1990.
He made his last conducting appearance at the Albert Hall in 2003 with Scottish Co-op.
He remains one of the most musically gifted figures within the brass band fraternity and still an intuitive and discerning musical figure who I respect beyond measureProf David King
Mentor
Speaking to 4BR about the visit Prof King said: "Mr. Scott is still a guiding mentor to me. I used to go to him to have cornet tuition when I was a student and his musicianship was something that made a great impact on me then, as it still does today."
He added: "He remains one of the most musically gifted figures within the brass band fraternity and still an intuitive and discerning musical figure who I respect beyond measure.
It is the measure of the man and the musician that within minutes he was able to pick out things from the score that I knew would be invaluable to me."
