SMITHILLS School is to make its 'debut' this year at the traditionally held Whit Friday march contests staged in and around the villages of Oldham at the start of a hectic few weeks.

Led by award-winning Principal Cornet player Lynsey Hayes aged 17, the Senior Brass Band has already been holding outdoor marching practises. For the obvious reasons of adjudication and secrecy the band will not be announcing its actual contest march prior to the events themselves and its identity will be kept firmly under wraps by all the players, officials and teachers involved. The band will be playing around the villages of Grotton, Lydgate, Delph, Uppermill and Dobcross on June 16. But you can hear them on Friday night when they feature on the BBC Radio 2 programme "Listen To The Band"

at 9.30pm along with the session by St Helens Youth Band, recorded in Manchester.

In July they will be in London at the Royal Festival Hall defending their title as National Festival of Music For Youth "Outstanding Performance Award Winners".

And just three days later, the band members will jet off to Atlanta, Georgia, for an American tour.