A CITIZEN reader has paid tribute to her favourite weekly newspaper for giving her husband a new direction in life.

When Jon Arnold spotted a snippet in the paper about a brass band concert he went along and was hooked.

Now the former singer, who had to retire due to ill health, has found a new outlet for his musical talents - fronting brass bands and raising money for charity. Wife Valerie explained: "We went along to see Brass In Blue and they had a male soloist with them.

"Jon was very impressed and there and then decided he wanted to sing with a brass band doing charity work."

His first step was to get in contact with Thornton Cleveleys Band and leader Chris Andrews was so impressed he invited Jon on board for two shows.

Since then he has appeared in the Pleasure Beach's Paradise Room for a MRI Scanner Appeal Show and received the ultimate accolade when Cardinal Allen High School in Fleetwood named a music cup after him.

The school, which is well known for its enthusiastic approach to music studies, awards a cup each year to the pupil who has achieved the highest standard.

It has now been renamed the Jon Arnold Trophy.

Jon, from Roylen Avenue, Poulton, had a professional career which spanned 50 years.

He appeared in many West End musicals, notably Fiddler On The Roof, before having to call a halt because of his health.

Valerie is delighted he is involved in music again and went on to say: "Jon is in his element and I am just happy to hear him sing."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.