WHEN Charlie Harrison started playing for Cockerton Prize Silver Band, George V was king, and the Second World War was still 12 years in the future.

Mr Harrison, 84, is now about to approach his 80th year as a member of the band, which last night played to a packed house at Cockerton Club, near Darlington.

The tenor horn player first joined the band in 1927 when he was five.

His great-uncle Charlie Pawson founded the band in 1870, the same year as The Northern Echo began printing, and at one point his family accounted for nearly half its complement.

Mr Harrison was taught music by his father and was playing the cornet by the age of three.

After leaving the Army, he played professionally with a number of dance bands around the country before returning to the area to play in the house band at the Middlesbrough Empire.

He then spent 25 years working as joiner in the steel industry, but was made redundant at the age of 61, at which point he went to Birmingham School of Music and spent four years getting a degree in music.

“I’ve played in a number of bands but there’s always been Cockerton Band,” said Mr Harrison.

“My father made sure of that.

“To be honest, there’s been times when I’ve been fed up and disillusioned and some years ago I thought about packing it in as a player.

“I practice every day and I think that maybe I’ve improved a little.

“I think I’m a bit more proficient than I was, although my sight reading’s not as good as it once was.

“I think you can say it’s in my blood. I think I’ll keep going on for ever, maybe they’ll have a band in heaven.”

In his 79 years playing for the band, Mr Harrison has said he has seen a number of changes.

However, he feels that this present incarnation is one of the best he has played in.

Cockerton Band, which was a national championship finalist last year, was recently placed second in the Durham League’s Area Grading Contest, in which Mr Harrison took the trophy for the best tenor horn section for the second year in succession.

“We had a very good band just prior to the war in 1938,”

he said.

But I think this outfit we’ve got now is as good as that one.

The conductor, George Nicklin, is very good, he’s a strict disciplinarian. He doesn’t half give us some stick, but musically he’s very good.”

However, John Steel, a trustee of the band, believes that the dedication provided by Mr Harrison, and his 78- year-old brother Richard, is part of the reason for the band’s success.

It has 38 regular members, a thriving junior section and a section for older members The band is also trying to raise £10,000 for two new tubas.

Mr Steel said: “Charlie’s a first rate musician, he’s played at the Albert Hall 20 or 30 times in his career, he’s one of the best horn players I know.

“He’s great for bringing the youngsters on. He’s a real character and has provided a great spine for the band, the whole Harrison family has.

“They’re a great musical family, there was even an uncle called Sonnett.”

For more information about the band contact 01325-482901 or visit cockerton.org The band’s next performance is a carol concert tomorrow at the Model T pub at Mowden Park at 8pm. Admission is free.

■ Do you know of any musician who has been playing longer than Mr Harrison? Call The Northern Echo on 01325-505064.