MILITARY music has been a way of life for Bob Meldrum since he joined the Army 31 years ago.

The 47-year-old major, from Bedale, has travelled the world in a distinguished banding career, but at the weekend he returned to his old school to share his expertise with talented young musicians.

Major Meldrum, appointed director of the Royal Artillery Orchestra in August last year, conducted it during a concert at Bedale High School, featuring music from films and shows, as well as pieces for soloists.

The concert was preceded by workshops at the school in which the 37 members of the orchestra, based at Woolwich, in South London, gave advice and encouragement to youngsters hoping to make their own mark in music. The pupils came from schools all over the area.

Maj Meldrum joined up when he left the school at 16. Two influences on his choice of career were his paternal grandfather, who played the cornet with the Cameron Highlanders, and the band of the Green Howards, which visited the school when he was a pupil. He once played cornet with Bedale Brass Band.

He said that as well as playing on ceremonial occasions, including passing out parades, military bands were valuable morale boosters for soldiers in the field. In March he took a pop band to Iraq for a week.

Maj Meldrum tries to return to his home town in North Yorkshire at least once a year. His visit to his old school with the orchestra was arranged through head of music Zena Bentley.

He said: "Both my mother and my sister have had working connections with the school. Some of the older teachers still remember me and are always interested in what I am up to. Zena said it would be nice if the band could go to the school."