DESIGNED to benefit both local people and tourists alike, a leaflet with the title Lydney Town Heritage Walk – “1.8 miles on good paths and pavements that bring the history of the town back to life” – has recently been produced.

When reading what is a fairly comprehensive text, of particular interest to me was a section on the Lydney-born composer Herbert Howells (1892 -1983).

The prominent composer was born in the building next to the Baptist chapel on High Street and a blue plaque has been placed there in commemoration.

I first came into contact with Herbert Howells’s music back in 1980, when playing for Yorkley Onward Band at the Reading Brass Band Festival – the set piece of music was Howells’ superb composition Pageantry.

Other than Pageantry and another work, Three Figures, Howells’s brass band repertoire was sparse, prevalent more in choral and orchestral works, where his composition Hymnus Paradisi became his masterpiece – that’s what it says in the text!

Coincidentally 2017, sees the re-emergence of Pageantry in the brass band world, where it has been chosen as the set work in the championship section (premier division) for the qualifying stages of the National Brass Band of Great Britain which culminates in the finals at the Royal Albert Hall in October where well-known bands such as Cory, Black Dyke, Brighouse and Rastrick compete for this prestigious award.

Locally we are represented by Lydbrook Band in the qualifying stages.

It would be quite something if Lydbrook could qualify playing “a Lydney bloke’s” music. No pressure then.

The Lydney Town Heritage Walk leaflet has been distributed around the town.

Otherwise it is available, free of charge from the Lydney Town Council offices.

– Cllr Alan Preest, Lydney.