French Horn player and former Royal Marines musician Steve Herbert, under his newly formed company Once Loved Musical Items, hosted a Symphonic Wind Band Day at The Great Hall, Wellington School, where 70 musicians came together for a day of music making under the direction of guest conductor Sam Hairsine.

Steve said: “I came up with the idea of getting experienced players together where they would be coached and directed through new and challenging pieces during the day by a top conductor about five or six years ago and I had organised such events for my previous employer.

“So now I am semi-retired I have the time to continue with these musically demanding days which put even the most highly skilled musicians through their paces.”

Players taking part came from Wellington, Taunton, Devon and Cornwall with some travelling from Wales and East Sussex for the day.

Sam Hairsine guided the musicians through a varied repertoire including Symphony No 3 Slavyanska by Kozhevnikov, Salute to American Jazz by Sammy Nestico and March To the Heroes of the Patriotic War by Khachaturian.

Tempting displays of musical instruments, accessories and sheet music were on offer from Taunton music shop Note-Orious, local composer and arranger Colin Dance (Dance Is With Music), Lucy Annetts (LA Music and repairer from Ivybridge) and Once Loved Musical Items.

Andy Stark, former Royal Marines musician and director of music with Wellington Silver Band, said: “Even though many of us were professional military musicians in our day it is unusual now to sit down and play such a high standard of music for a whole day, so these events are great to get together and meet former colleagues and make new friends.”

Steve has been asked to organise another similar event next year – anyone who would like to go along and listen should visit his website www.oncelovedmusicalitems.co.uk for details.