Picture shows Roy Souster and the Ercol Band at his last rehearsal

TENOR horn player Roy Souster received a rousing reception when he retired from the Ercol Band after 50 years.

Mr Souster, 66, was greeted with champagne by fellow band members and Ercol management when he arrived at his last rehearsal in the staff canteen at the High Wycombe furniture firm last Tuesday evening.

Before the rehearsal, Ercol's managing director Edward Tadros and director Lucia Ercolani showed the company's appreciation by presenting him with chairmaker's chair in ash featuring the Swan emblem and signed by Mr Tadros, Lucia and Lucian Ercolani, and Tom Dean.

"It is an amazing record," said Mr Tadros. "He is a super player, a charming man and a great organiser."

Mr Souster, who lives in Chinnor, was secretary of the band and played with the band at the annual ceremony marking the lighting of the Christmas Tree in Trafalgar Square. He first played there in 1977.

Over the years, he has appeared with the band at innumerable charity events and fetes locally and at in-store launches throughout the country.

Roy said: "How can one express it? It has been a pleasure. We have always had such a tremendous relationship with the company.

"Tonight is very poignant. I did not expect this."

The Ercol Band came into being towards the end of the Second World War when Ercol's founder Lucian Ercolani snr received a call from a man asking whether he would be prepared to keep the Home Guard Brass Band in High Wycombe intact.

Mr Ercolani agreed as he recalls in his book: "The bandmaster and secretary turned up as arranged - and along with them came the whole band. Provision was made for two rehearsals a week, after working hours, in our new canteen."

He continues: "I took it for granted that the Ercol Band would excite the pride of our employees, would be a band for citizens to play to other citizens, and to enable people to enjoy the sound of music. This was part of our creation."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.