ONE of the region's most famous brass bands is celebrating its best result in a major competition.
The Reg Vardy Band, from Stanley, County Durham, came third in the All England Masters Championship, held in Cambridge.
Previously known as the Ever Ready Band, its best result in the contest before this year was in 2001, when it came seventh.
Band manager Les Palmer said: "It's the best result we've had in a competition for the 21 best bands in England.
"The Yorkshire Building Society, who is currently the best band in the world, won, with the famous Brighouse and Rastrick Band in second place, so we were delighted to come third."
Conducted by Ray Farr, the band had to perform a piece called Harrison's Dream by Peter Graham, about the discovery of longitude calculations at sea following a disaster in which 1,700 lives were lost off the Scilly Isles.
The next major competition for the Reg Vardy Band is the British Open in Birmingham on Saturday, September 18.
Published: 05/06/2004
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