Brass musician, 93, says tootaloo after retiring after 74 years playing trombone

Huddersfield-born Frank says he's very sad to have to give up, but he has had a "great life in music" - which included playing in the London Symphony Orchestra for 30 years and on the sound tracks of many great films - including Star Wars, Superman and Raiders of the Lost Ark.

While his name may not mean anything to most everyday people, he is highly regarded within the classical music world.

Frank, of Hebden Bridge West Yorkshire, first played in The Lindley Band when he was 12, playing the cornet. He started playing G trombone when he was 19, during National Service in the Army.

He later joined the City of Birmingham Orchestra, where he stayed for 13 years. He was recommended to the LSO by a world-famous conductor called Jachsa Horenstien, who had heard and admired his playing.

At the LSO he played bass trombone under many of the LSO's legendary conductors including Claudio Abbado, Andre Previn, and Georg Solti, and alongside musicians including Maurice Murphy, a world renowned trumpet player, who was also principal cornet with Black Dyke.

Andre Previn was their principle conductor for many years, and was fondly remembered for bringing classical music to a wider audience when attempting to perform Grieg's piano concerto with comedy duo Morecambe and Wise.

The soundtrack to the 1977 film Star Wars, composed and conducted by John Williams , was performed by the LSO - it is reputedly still the highest grossing non-popular music recording of all time.

The orchestra was then employed with John Williams again to do the music to the Star Wars trilogy sequels, Superman and Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Frank retired from the LSO in 1993 and moved up to Hebden Bridge where he had bought a holiday cottage back in the early sixties.

A few years back he was made a lifetime honorary member of The Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra, where he played bass trombone.

He also played regularly with the Friendly Brass Band in Sowerby Bridge where his son Peter is principal cornet.

One of his most treasured possessions is a crystal goblet which he was presented by George Solti on his retirement.

Frank said: "When I was in the Birmingham orchestra I had a wish to get to London and my ambition was to play in the Royal Festival Hall and also Carnegie Hall and La Scala and I managed to do all three.

"I've had a great life in music. It's been a blast".