BRASS band stalwart Peter Crawford is celebrating his own golden jubilee this year.

The cornet player has notched up 50 years in brass bands since leaving Windermere Grammar School at 14.

And his golden achievement has been toasted with a certificate of honour from the North West Area Brass Band Association - not to mention a special tie.

Peter, who lives in Burneside with wife Judith, joined Staveley Village Band back in 1952.

He has always played the cornet, and was inspired by Preston-born trumpet player Eddie Calvert, whose record Oh Mein Papa topped the charts for many weeks.

Peter, who worked as a woodturner in Staveley, and still enjoys turning fruit bowls and candlesticks, later played with Kendal Borough Band, Windermere Town Band, and Kirkby Lonsdale Band.

Ten years ago he was chatting to fellow cornet player Bill Turton in Burneside post office when they came up with the idea of starting a village brass band.

"It was just a fun thing to start off with," recalled Peter.

That first rehearsal in Burneside Cricket Club attracted bandsmen from as far afield as Flookburgh and Morecambe.

The band has just two or three pieces of borrowed music and, although Bill and Peter had expected only half a dozen players, nearly a full band turned up.

The band has progressed over the years, and Peter paid tribute to conductor Roger Lincoln, who had "done wonders" for the band, and to Bill, for encouraging so many talented youngsters.

Around 30 members, some from Morecambe, Windermere and Kendal, gather at Burneside Church Hall in winter, and the cricket club in summer, for twice weekly rehearsals.

Peter described the atmosphere as "brilliant".

The band has just started looking at the music for the North West Area contest at Darlington in March - Simon Dobson's Lydion Pictures.

"It's about the most difficult thing we've tried up to now," said Peter.

Fellow founder member Bill Turton said Peter deserved his accolade, and had raised a terrific amount of money for the band over the years.