Although I haven''t played in a flute band since 1962, I still retain an interest this form of music. My experiences when I was a boy in the Lurgan Amateur Flute Band gave me a love for the flute and its music, and when I ended up in England with my work, I continued to play the flute in orchestras and ensembles. I don't play so much now but I still have a blow for fun when I can.

I knew a number of the people mentioned in various parts of the site. The Ulster Amateurs conductors such as Sammy Stewart and Sam Barclay seemed to eventually find themselves in Lurgan, as did Ardwell Donning, Galway's initial teacher and from whom I bought my first Boehm system flute. It is a great pity that this band does not exist now. Also I see in your collection you have Billy Braniff's piccolo. At the time. we would have gone anywhere to hear and marvel at his playing on this instrument.

So many memories but it is disappointing to find nothing about the Lurgan band which had a very good track record both on the street and on the concert and contest platforms, from 1904 until when exactly I do not know, but probably the 1980s or 1990s. I was contesting with them in the 1950s and early 1960s, initally in the Intermediate Section, and then when we won that a number of times in the Senior, but without much success there. They were still playing on Boosey & Hawkes Crown AZ flutes throughout this period.

I know that the lack of reference to this band is not your fault. Some time ago, in fact after I had read the book about Ballyclare Victoria and corresponded briefly with its author David Heaney, I had a brief try to get something of the history of the LAFB together but not surprisingly from a distance of 400 miles, I was unsuccessful. I am not in touch with any of the ex-members who are still alive, but I did write some time ago to The Lurgan Mail (local paper) to see whether they could help but they could not.

Best wishes

G. Hull.