A casual remark to a friend at a Wine Makers Circle Meeting was the catalyst that resulted in not only me, but also my family becoming very involved with the local Brass Band. Protestation that I was too old (I was nearly 40) to take up playing a brass instrument was countered by my friend, who reminded me that we were at Junior School together and were therefore of similar age. He then went on to tell me that he had taken up playing the Tenor Horn less than six months earlier. I recalled those far off days when we had played self-made bamboo recorders at Junior School. Recorders weren't available in the shops during the war. We had also been Choristers together at the local Parish Church. Those memories of being involved in "music making" motivated me to go along to a Band rehearsal! I was given a very old and battered cornet together with a tutor book and sent away to "get started". Our young daughter, and younger son, were fascinated with the Cornet and soon developed an interest in playing a brass instrument. They joined the Junior Band and with active minds and quick fingers they quickly became proficient and progressed to the Senior Band, achieving the solo position in their chosen instrument. Our daughter (Bryony Dyer) took up residence in Haslemere in 1996 and joined the Haslemere Town Band a short time later. In 1998 I was grateful that Haslemere Town Band agreed to allow "Dad" to enroll and join his daughter and their band. Brass banding is a great hobby and I recommend it.