A MUSICAL stalwart is celebrating 60 swinging years as a member of Farndon & District Brass Band.

Back in July 1953, Phil Mason was looking forward to the summer holidays when his father gave him the ultimatum of either going for elocution lessons or joining the village brass band.

Phil opted for the band, and six decades later, he’s still going strong.

Over the years he has played the tuba in hundreds of local concerts and carnivals, has served as the band’s secretary and regularly fundraises for them.

And in 60 years he has only missed playing on one Christmas morning due to a broken ankle.

The former civil engineer has remained a steadfast member of the group even though the number of brass bands in the UK has dropped by 90%.

But Phil, now 68, credits his original bandmaster, the late Tom Brown, with teaching him about what it means to keep a local band alive.

“I have a lot to thank Mr Brown for; he replicated what grass roots brass banding is all about; keeping it alive in the local area,” he said.

“I developed relatively quickly after I started and Mr Brown even suggested that I follow my father into the RAF and take up a musical career in the forces but I progressed into civil engineering with brass banding very much as a hobby.

“The most poignant time for me was in 1976, when, in the middle of a concert, as he raised his baton for the juniors to play a march, Mr Brown fell forward over the rostrum to his death in front of a devastated audience which was a very public end for a very private man who was a brilliant mentor, not only to me but to the many other young people’s lives he touched throughout his life.”

“I have so many great memories from over the years.

“The brass band tradition is fighting to survive and I believe the concept of banding has to change, maybe from the more stereotypical band format to giving people what they want to hear; popular enjoyable music.”

And Phil described the crystal trophy that was presented to him by the band last month during a concert, as ‘the equivalent of being given a BAFTA’.

“After all these years I have to be grateful that I can pick up my tuba – and still blow it!

“But like any performer, you do it because you want to, it’s your hobby and you enjoy playing, particularly for the pleasure it brings to others.”

Bandmember John Reeves said: “I have known Phil for 23 years now and have shared some wonderful, uplifting, moving and amazing performances with him.

“Phil is a great guy who has stayed loyal to the band through all the highs and lows of the last 60 years.

“It’s very much thanks to him the band has not just survived, but thrived over the years.

“It’s difficult to imagine the band without Phil and we are all most grateful to him.”