RICHIE Owens from Knighton has just retired as a member of Knighton Town Silver band after 71 years.

Richie joined the band in 1945 when he was 14 and started work at Brisbane's as a trainee bicycle mechanic. He was recruited by two of his workmates Alec Gough and Bob Brogan who were both band members.

Richie has played a baritone with the band for the majority of the time with a short break when he did his national service in Hong Kong in the early 1950s. He has played with nine different conductors/musical directors from Tommy Thomas who restarted the band for the Victory celebrations in 1945 to Sarah Freeman the present musical director.

In 1956 he met his future wife Val when she joined the band, they were married in 1958. The couple have four children and three of them have played with the Knighton band and been members of the North Powys Youth Band. Val is still playing in the band and Richie said "I will be relying on her to keep me informed on everything the band is up to". He continues by saying "During the time with the band I have seen hundreds of people passing through. I have really enjoyed all the friendships I have had over the years and the pleasure of making music. I like all the bands music especially the marches and one of the biggest highlights was playing with the band at the Menin Gate in Belgium at their evening service a very moving experience for all band members". Richie also said how he loved touring with the bands in the summer when they played at local shows and carnivals including Knighton, Clun and Bromyard.

At the bands latest concert in Knighton community centre Richie was presented with a montage of photos from his early days in the band until the present day and a retirement cake by musical director Sarah Freeman. Sean Milward band chairman thanked Ritchie for his loyal service to the band for so many years and wished him all the best in his retirement.