Ivan Lewis, Musical Director of the Ashton-on-Mersey Showband for 14 years, has never forgotten their founder, Ernie Waites who started it in 1973.

For thirteen years they have held an annual Ernie Waites Festival of Music.   Ivan said:   “Just before he died, Ernie had arranged a BBC Northern Dance Orchestra concert at the Britannia Hotel so we changed it to a tribute concert and played the  tunes he had chosen.”

Since then these concerts have raised £25,000 for charity.    This year’s will be for the Christie Hospital..

Among the tunes played will be extracts from Mary Poppins, a big band number, Lover come Back, and Air on a G String which morphs into Whiter Shade of Pale – all taken from their new CD, Lights, Camera, Music.

“We recorded it at Eccles Masonic Hall in two parts, one in February and the second, two weeks ago.   It should be ready by the end of May,” said Ivan, 48.

The band’s 33 members still have two players who joined when they were teenagers on the first day at Ashton-on-Mersey school.

“The most important thing is the music.   We play in many different styles.

“The variety makes it more difficult for me to do the arranging.   Sometimes I can’t think of anything.

“I’m currently working on Flash, Bang, Wallop from Half a Sixpence which I heard on a CD in my car.”

*  The Ernie Waites Festival of Music is at the Cresta Court Hotel, Altrincham on Sunday, April 17 at 8 pm.   Tickets, priced £8.00, from 0161 962 6651 or pay at door.