Frank Mathison who died in June aged 98 is certainly the most distinguished, and probably also the oldest, player to have played with Friendly band.

Frank first picked up a brass instrument in the early 1940s when he was in his early teens and was caught being mischievous outside Lindley band room. To get himself out of trouble he declared he’d “come to join t’band” and was therefore obliged to go in and have a go. He chose to try the flugel horn, discovered that he liked it and that he also had a talent for it, and soon established himself as regular player with what was then, as now, a “crack” band.

After two years’ National Service in the army, during which he moved onto the G trombone as his main instrument, he won a scholarship to Birmingham School of Music where he achieved a music degree.

He had several short-term jobs with theatre orchestras before being offered the post of bass trombone with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. He stayed with them for 13 years until the world-famous conductor Jascha Horenstein, who had heard and admired Frank’s playing, recommended him to the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO).