IT was the late 1920s when a little boy called at the home of a Todmorden doctor and said he wanted to play the trombone in the local orchestra.

The boy was 11 years old and his name was Geoffrey Love - and he was only one of many musicians who began in Todmorden Orchestra and went on to achieve fame in the world of music.

Geoff Love got his trombone and, encouraged by the orchestra president, Dr John de Ville Mather, began a career which took him to the top.

Forty years later, he said: "Everything I have done in music I owe to Dr Mather. It was he who gave me the start I wanted and encouraged me to go on."

Todmorden Orchestra was formed towards the end of the First World War and in the early years was conducted by Arthur Greenwood, before a spell under Fred Leach.

During the 1920s the orchestra gathered strength, particularly in the string section and woodwind, which included the trio of Greenwood Shuttleworth, oboe, Arnold Nuttall, clarinet, and Jacob Maden, bassoon.

Mr Maden also conducted the junior orchestra, which enjoyed a successful run for many years, playing in Corporation Park.

An enthusiastic musician, he organised concerts with the choral society, and soloists at the time included Isobel Baillie, Arthur Catterall, who was leader of the Halle in the 60s, and trumpeter Harry Mortimer.

During the 20s and 30s, it continued to flourish under several leaders, Teddy Shackleton, Mrs Ashworth, wife of the leader of the cello section Walter Ashworth, and Thelma Maden.

She was Jacob's daughter, who made her debut as a violinist as a child at Todmorden Hippodrome and became a professional musician.

The orchestral society was greatly helped by president Dr Mather, who served from the mid 20s until 1958. He had played the flute in the junior orchestra and bass trombone in the seniors.

He continued to play until he was 80 and in his 87th year, in 1968, was still attending municipal concerts. He was succeeded by his son Dr Northage de Ville Mather, who played the horn.

During the pre-war period, many of its musicians did well professionally, including Frank Taylor and Jack Johnson, who played the horn, and bassoon players Clarence Town and Maurice Ashworth.

After the death of Mr Leach, the orchestra was directed by Vernon Foulds, then in 1958 for three years by Oliver Broome, and then by Dr Ben Horsfall, who was a native of Todmorden and who had played with the orchestra as a boy.

The Mather family continued to take much interest and in 1962 three generations of the family played in one particular concert. As well as players from Todmorden, there were musicians from Barrowford and Burnley.