Radio Braodcast
BBC Radio 2, 4 February 1998 0.30 Jazz Notes Digby Fairweather presents a studio set from Gerry Brown and the Mission Hall Band. Trumpeter and vocalist Gerry Brown is joined by Ken Pearce on trombone, Mike Snelling on clarinet and saxophone, Dave Broomfield on banjo and guitar, Tony Holloway on double bass and Arthur Ward on drums.

From the Portsmouth NEWS
No More drumming but Arthur sticks by Jazz
DETERMINED musician Arthur Ward has swopped his drumsticks for a conductor's baton after he was forced to give up playing his beloved jazz music. Musician Arthur Ward has formed his own jazz orchestra. Three years ago, a stroke left him partially-paralysed and unable to pursue his long-life passion. Now the Fareham pensioner has battled back in an attempt to bring a new 17-piece orchestra together to keep his music alive. A professional musician since the age of 16, Mr Ward played the drums at the old Clarence Pier Pavilion for 13 years before moving to the famous Concorde Club in Eastleigh. But his musical world fell apart and he thought he would never be able to play again when he was paralysed down his left side after he suffered his stroke. He has spent two years encouraging players to join a new jazz orchestra and is inviting talented young hopefuls to sit in and benefit from his huge experience. Music pupils of Havant-based teacher Chris Waters as young as nine years are set to join the Arthur Ward Jazz Orchestra's monthly gigs at the Fareham Working Men's Club in Mill Road where they will be playing next Monday night from 8pm until 10pm.

Young sax players horn in to big band
TWO talented young musicians were given the chance to play with modern jazz players in concert. Saxophonists Matthew Huckle, 14, of Fareham, and Ryan Peake, 10, of Worthing, took to the stage with the Arthur Ward Jazz Orchestra at Fareham Working Men's Club in Mill Road. The duo joined the 17-strong band in a performance of Early Autumn for an audience of about 200. They were invited to take part by band conductor and founder Arthur Ward, who is friends with their families and teachers. The band went on to record two pieces for entry in BBC Radio Two's Big Band Contest for amateur bands. They were Body and Soul and Limehouse Blues. Mr Ward said: 'It was wonderful. It's the first time we've entered the Big Band Contest. 'I think we have a chance of winning.'