A PENSIONER and keen musician says he was devastated after he was told to leave a brass band "because he did not fit in with their new image."

Gordon Roscoe, aged 75, says he was asked to leave Eaton's Farnworth and Kearsley brass band after almost a year because the group was looking to improve its image.

The former electrical engineer had joined the band to socialise and continue with his baritone playing after the death of his wife from cancer.

He was loaned an instrument and uniform by the group, and spent £70 of his own money on having the baritone refurbished.

Mr Roscoe, who lives in Kiln Brow, Bromley Cross, attended rehearsals each week and took part in a number of concerts and marches with the group. But several weeks ago, Mr Roscoe was told he was no longer welcome.

He said: "I joined in February and played all through the year with the band and did several concerts.

"Shortly before Christmas the chairman pulled me to one side after a rehearsal and told me that I didn't fit in with the image of the band anymore.

"I was very shocked and upset. I admit that at 75 after 62 years of playing, I'm not as good as I used to be and can have trouble hearing sometimes, but I can still play.

"Nothing had been mentioned about any sort of probation period and I simply assumed I was a member of the band. There were others in the band who were late and missed rehearsals, but I never did. I always did my job and was never late, but they said the band was looking to improve its image.

"I had been thoroughly enjoying myself with the band. It was a real blow and affected my self confidence."

Mr Roscoe has since joined Radcliffe Brass Band and a band for mature musicians at Smithills School, run by Chris Wormald.

Mr Wormald said: "This type of thing does happen when musicians reach their peak, as it would in football, but Gordon is a fantastic gentleman, and is a real pillar of the community. He is welcome in our band as long as he plays."

Director of music at Radcliffe Alan Hobson said: "I had never known anything like this to happen before and I was upset to see Gordon go. Eaton's band have become very competitive and any hearing problem experienced by Gordon could have been translated as a problem by a conductor, but he could have been given a little more help. But brass band players are dwindling and Gordon can do a good job. They were harsh with him. could have handled it better. At Radcliffe we are very happy with him."

When contacted, Chairman of the Eaton band Chris Barrett said: "The reason for letting Mr Roscoe go is a private band matter."