A LOCAL brass band pairing was in sparkling form when the North West Counties Brass Bands Association commemorated their silver and gold anniversaries.

Helen Minshall, a teacher with Bolton music Service, and musical director of Astley Youth Band and Bolton Training Brass Band, was presented a certificate of service to pay tribute to her 25 years in the brass band movement.

And Gordon Higham, bass player and tutor with Astley Youth Band, was honoured for his 50 years in the area's brass band world.

Gordon started playing bass in Hindley Subscription Band at the age of 12 in 1951, and stayed a member of the band for 14 years until moving to the Swinton area in 1965. He joined the Barton Hall Band, and was a member until 1969.

At that time Gordon started working at the British Oxygen Company in Worsley and joined the BOC Works Band. At the same time he also joined Salford Silver Band. He regularly played with Salford Silver for 16 years, and still helps them out at concerts.

In 1985 Gordon met Stephen Minshall who also worked at BOC. He and his wife, Helen, were at the time starting up the Eccles Borough B (Youth) Band. He not only played bass in the band but also helped establish it.

In 1994 the Minshalls started the Astley Youth Band and once again Gordon was on hand to help. He has accompanied the Youth Band on three tours, and is set to be travelling on a fourth to Germany in July 2002.

Described as the "biggest kid in Astley Youth Band", Gordon is thought to be the first playing member of a youth band to get the award for 50 years service.