THE Durham County Brass Band Association’s Picnic in the Park Brass Band Concert held on Sunday, July 6, was a brilliant event.

Regarding the letter from Marjorie Elliot (HAS, July 11) the “Huey” she refers to is actually Hugh Stephenson, a cornet player with Spennymoor Town Band and a brilliant advocate for the Durham brass band movement.

He did a marvellous job selling raffle tickets and generally promoting the work of the Durham County Brass Band Association.

He has raised £5,000 in four months after hearing the Association’s February 2014 contest made a £900 loss. He is a lovely fella.

Durham county councillor Neil Foster spoke at the contest about how he loves brass and was there to promote the brass festival.

All of us brass players are looking forward to listening to some of the fantastic music that will be on offer.

I am a trombonist with Lanchester Brass Band (a band which competed in the contest) and I would like to say on behalf of all of us what a great job the association does.

The committee is made up of a core of members who may think their work goes unnoticed.

We rely on their commitment and I would like to publicly thank them.

So take a bow George Bramfitt (who compered the contest), Susan Hayton, Julie Carmichael, Vaughan Evans, Mavis Lloyd, Scott Meikle, Eric Schlosser and Karen Heaviside.

Brass bands are alive and well in the region.

The performance by Houghton Area Youth Band in the interval of the DLI contest gave testament to that.

Long may it continue.

Lesley Wilkinson, Durham.