The Leyland Band has helped raise £1,000 for the British Heart Foundation following a concert featuring music celebrating the life of their former Musical Director Richard Evans.

Led by Thomas Wyss, the audience (which included two families that came from Derbyshire specially for the event) at the local St Mary's Church was entertained with a varied programme that included favourites such as 'You'll Never Walk Alone' and 'Ave Maria', as well as a brand new tuba solo version of 'The Fields of Athenry' by composer Ryan Broad, played Chris Doran.

Thanks Boss!

The musical highlight though was surely Alan Fernie's march 'Richard Evans — Thanks Boss!', whilst the contributions to the banding movement of Goff Richards and Roy Newsome, as well as Jack Hughes, the original bandmaster with the then Leyland Motors Band were also noted. His son, Ronnie still attends all local concerts.

There was also reference to the debt owed to the late George Heyes the founding MD of nearby Lostock Hall Band, whose family are still closely connected with both bands.

Great Escape

As a tongue in cheek reference to Richard (a life-long Everton FC supporter) Tom Wyss finished the concert with the encore of Elmer Bernstein's march 'The Great Escape' — something that would surely have put a smile on Tricky Dicky's face.