HUNTINGDONSHIRE Concert Band’s next concert takes place at the Burgess Hall in St Ives on March 16.

Over its 20 year history, HCB has maintained a bond with the Forces that runs deeper than their shared love of military concert band music.

Its founder, Laurie Hurst, served as a musician in the RAF for 25 years and the current musical director, David McClintock, was an Army musician for nine years with the Royal Artillery Band and Orchestra, the premier band of the British Army.

In founding the band in 1993 while a conductor of the Huntingdon Youth Band, Laurie hoped to offer musicians an opportunity to play the music he loved for the local community.

The band gradually grew in size and stature under Laurie’s leadership and he arranged many of the pieces in its repertoire to suit the fledgling band and its budget.

Laurie died in 1994 but left the band in great shape. Over the next decade, under resident musical director Carole Lewis, it established a solid reputation in the region for the quality of its concerts.

David was appointed musical director in 2004.

As well as the Big Sounds Concert in St Ives next month, HCB will play with the band of the RAF Regiment in the Performing Arts Centre at Hinchingbrooke on May 18.

That event will be run in conjnction with SSAFA as part of the Help For Heroes fundraising project.

INFORMATION: Visit the website www.huntingdonshireconcertband.com