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Happy birthday from the entire brass band

Gavin Hird
22/10/2003

INSTEAD of the usual 90th birthday gifts like Old Spice aftershave and patterned socks - James Aitchison was given a personal performance by an award-winning brass band.

The Sutton man was "absolutely gobsmacked" when the Bollington Brass Band arrived unexpectedly at his party to give an impromptu performance.

The surprise treat was the icing on the birthday cake for James, of Fitzwilliam Avenue.

It was organised by his son-in-law John Pearson who, as Scout Leader, arranged for the band to head the village's annual Harvest Parade.

At the end of the march, they carried on to John's house on Jarman, Sutton, where the party with friends and neighbours was already in full swing.

All 33 band members marched on to the drive and played 'Happy Birthday' and 'Congratulations'.

John said: "Having arranged for the band to do the Harvest Parade as usual, I asked if they might do a little bit extra this year.

"It was wonderful and it made my father-in-law's day. He was absolutely gobsmacked when they marched to the top of the drive and struck up."

James said: "I knew there was to be a family meal, but more than that I did not know.

"I was sat with my back to the French windows when I became aware of this music, and when I swung around in my chair, there was the Bollington Brass Band in all its glory.

"It was with great appreciation and tremendous surprise that it all unfolded that way and it was quite an experience."

The band were crowned Second Section North West Champions back in March and recently travelled to Dundee to play in the Brass Band Championships of Great Britain - and only missed out on the big prize by a single point.

And, capping the most successful period in the band's history, they will play in the first section from the start of next year - the highest level for brass bands.

But the chairman, Roger Johnson, said that the surprise birthday performance gave the musicians more enjoyment than winning any award.

"The whole band went along and he was overjoyed," he said. "That was the kind of thing we like to do, to bring a smile to someone's face."

James has lived in Sutton for just over a year after moving from Dundee to be near his daughter, Margaret.

The grandfather-of-two said: "The people around here are very helpful and very friendly. I can't speak highly enough of them."