Nine year old Durlston Court pupil wins trophy at West of England’s Bandsmen Festival

A NINE-year-old boy who impressed judges at a music festival competition took home the same trophy his grandfather won more than 50 years ago.

Oliver Lush Camps, a pupil at Durlston Court School in New Milton, was “delighted” to win the accolade for playing in the best brass band at the West of England’s Bandsmen Festival in Bugle, Cornwall.

His grandfather Hugh Camps took the 100-year-old trophy in 1972.

“It is such a nice link back to the past that he has now won the exact same trophy,” said Jonathan, Oliver’s father. “I have a photo of my dad being presented with it.”

Oliver was doubly delighted by his win as, being a fanatical football fan, he was able to hold his own shiny trophy above his head “like they do when teams win a championship”.

“He was so thrilled he took it to school for show and tell,” said Jonathan.

Oliver was playing in the percussion sector of the Verwood Concert Brass Band at the open-air festival, which features competing bands.

Jonathan, who was also a member of the winning band, continued: “My wife Kate and I met through our love of brass bands when I was conductor of the Hyde band in Fordingbridge; she was playing the tenor horn.

“I used to be a bandmaster in the Royal Marines.”

Oliver has been showing an interest in brass band music over the past 18 months, starting on the cornet.

“He definitely seems to have inherited the family talent,” added Jonathan.