MEMBERS of a local brass band are mourning the loss of a former president — and internationally acclaimed actor.

Edward Woodward, who was most famous for his part in the cult horror film The Wicker Man, and in numerous TV roles including Callan and The Equalizer, was the president of Wingates Band, based in Westhoughton, from 1995 to 2000.

He died on Monday, aged 79.

The band’s current president, David Kaye, said the his colleagues had been saddened by the news.

Mr Kaye said: “The band was very proud Edward was the president. He was a really big name at the time.

“After nearly six years of being president, while living in Cornwall, he said he was not able to come up to see the band as much as he would like and we all agreed someone else would take over.”

Woodward, who was a huge brass band fan, had heard Wingates Band’s music while being driven to Granada studios in Manchester, where he was filming.

His chauffeur, whose son was a member of the band, was playing one of their CDs in the car.

Woodward said he had grown up with brass bands in Yorkshire, had heard of Wingates Band and asked for a CD.

The band contacted him and after discussions, he agreed to be their president.

Much to the delight of band members and fans, he was formally inaugurated as president at the band’s Valentine Night concert in February, 1995 at the Georgian House Hotel, in Blackrod.

He told the packed venue his childhood dream had been to be a member of a brass band and from that point he regularly travelled from his home in Cornwall to see them.

Mr Kaye said: “It was one of the most memorable nights in the band’s history. It was a magical night.”

Woodward clocked up more than 2,000 television appearances. Best known for his roles in occult classic The Wicker Man and as a former spy in television hit The Equalizer, he had been suffering from various illnesses, including pneumonia.

His agent Janet Glass confirmed the star died in a hospital in Cornwall and praised his “brave spirit and wonderful humour”.

The Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actor was also described as “one of the greatest actors of his generation”. lucy.ewing@theboltonnews.co.uk