FOLLOWING its successful concert at Madresfield Court in 2000, the RAF St Athan Band is returning to the area.

The band will be giving an open air concert on Saturday, July 6, at Spetchley Park, near Worcester.

The band, which was founded in 1938 and is based in South Wales, has enjoyed much success at the National Brass Band Championships and the Royal National Eisteddfod Championships.

The band's long-serving director is Alan Bourne, who has held the post since December, 1986.

The band will play a wide variety of popular music, including the haunting piece High on a Hill, which will feature two cornettists playing on the roof of Spetchley Hall.

Siriol Williams, the evening's guest soprano, has sung at concerts in London, Europe and America.

She will be singing some well-known numbers and will lead the audience in continuing the Golden Jubilee celebrations with Rule Britannia, Jerusalem and Land of Hope and Glory.

The concert has been organised by the Upton upon Severn, Malvern and Worcester branches of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution as a fundraising venture.

Peter Edwards, one of the organisers, said: "All the proceeds will be for the benefit of the lifeboats.

"With absolutely no help from the Government, it costs the RNLI well over £100 million a year to save lives at sea, on the coast and on inland waters."

The organisers are grateful to John Berkeley, the owner of Spetchley Park, for permission to use the picturesque estate as the venue.

Among the attractions at the event are a wine bar, a raffle, a lucky programme competition and a 'crock of gold' lucky parking space competition.

Although the concert does not begin until 7.30pm, the gates open at 5.30pm and concertgoers are encouraged to come along with picnics.

Tickets, at £10 (£5 for children under 16), are available from John Pountney, 4 Ashlea, Baughton, Earls Croome, Worcs, WR8 9DY, or Peter Edwards, 8 The Lees, Malvern, WR14 3HT. Enclose a stamped addressed envelope and make cheques payable to the RNLI.