A TALENTED musician who was chairman and compere of one of the Queen Mother's favourite village bands has died at the age of 83.

Roy Thomas played tenor horn for many years, as well as being front man for the silver band in Middleton-in-Teesdale, near Bar-nard Castle.

He had a large collection of jokes that he told as he introduced each tune at concerts all over the area, including several attended by the Queen Mother.

Mr Thomas arranged for the band to play for her when she stayed in Holwick Hall, the country home of her nephew, the Earl of Strathmore, in Upper Teesdale.

She kept in touch with the band's activities by reading its regular newsletter, which was sent to her at Clarence House, and she sent back a number of cheques over the years to help cover the running costs.

Mr Thomas always introduced the musicians to her at concerts, and she chatted to them, saying several times that she loved their music and that they were one of her favourite bands.

Andrew Nicholson, a member of the band for many years, said yesterday: "Roy was a really good horn player as well as a stalwart of the band. He gave it tremendous support and only stopped playing when he became ill."

Mr Thomas, who lived latterly in Gainford, was a headteacher in the Bishop Auckland area in his younger days and was a long serving official of the Co-operative movement.

He also served on the NHS Family Practitioner Committee at Durham and was chairman of that and several other related committees, serving 25 to 30 years. For the past 15 years of that time, he served on the NHS Tribunal Committee in London.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret, daughters Amanda and Hester and several grandchildren.

His funeral service will be held at 10.15am tomorrow at Darlington Crematorium.

Donations in lieu of flowers will be accepted in aid of the band.