THE familiar face of Allan Withington will be out front leading Brighouse and Rastrick Band in its assault on the English National title.

Allan, who had a decade of contest victories with Brighouse and Rastrick in the Nineties, is currently professional conductor of Grimethorpe Colliery Band, who have withdrawn from the contest.

Brighouse has recently engaged a new professional conductor, Prof David King, but on the day of the contest he will be on the other side of the world, fulfilling a longstanding commitment in Australia.

The National will be the first time that Allan has conducted the Brighouse musicians since the Yorkshire area contest seven years ago.

Between 1992 and 2002, Allan’s contest victories with Brighouse included three Masters’ titles, a European title and two National Finals victories.

This is the fourth year that the English National title has been contested and the Brighouse team hopes to improve on its previous placings. Allan could be just the man for the job. He made his debut at this contest two years ago and has won twice with Grimethorpe.