THE ASTLEY Youth Band gave the performances of their lives at a French festival.

And they repaired some of the damage caused by football hooligans at the World Cup.

The 42-strong band, with 34 supporters, were the hits of the International Festival of Music and the Arts in Latour.

The players appeared on French TV, played with the Philharmonic Choir from Manchester and performed at a festival Mass.

And at the end of their four days the organising committee declared they did not have a high opinion of young English people following the World Cup - but the band had gone a long way to mending that image and are a fine example of English youth.

Band creator and musical director Helen Minshall said: "We were complimented on the high standard of performance, excellent discipline and conduct. We are all very proud of what the band has achieved."

The festival opened with a concert in the town square which was broadcast on French TV.

Later in the day the Astley band performed with the Festival Chorus made up of singers from choirs throughout the North West of England and Isle of Man, including the Philharmonic, at the official opening ceremony, and presented the town mayor with Wigan MBC's coat of arms sent by the Mayor, Coun Sam Little.

The next day they gave a concert for the elderly in the area.

Then came the highlight of the trip. After a morning concert in the square the band joined the festival chorus and the local people for a festival Mass for people of all denominations in the Eglise Notre-Dame des Anges.

In the evening they set off for Eus in the Catalan mountains, but because buses could only reach half-way up the hill the players had to lug their instruments and equipment to the top.

Helen said: "We played in the most beautiful setting imaginable, on a stage below the church. The band gave the performance of their lives to a packed audience and received a standing ovation."

The band's final performance in Latour itself - with the retired Halle Orchestra conductor, John Wibley, in the audience.

An official reception followed in the town hall where the band was praised and presented with a commemorative medal and a huge hand-painted bottle of wine.

A CD of the concert at Eus is to be released shortly.

The band, pictured preparing for their trip, is: Helen Minshall (MD), Gavin Magenty, Scott Broadhurst, Hazel Christopher, Ruth Evans, Helen Fahey, Jonathan Farrell, Katie Halliwell, Chris Harrison, Sue Harrison, Sarah Hindley, Michelle Lloyd, John Noon, Joanne Norcott, David Pek, Steve Rollason, Geoff Burrows, Elizabeth Cook, Jeni Urmston, Hannah Boardman, Nicholas Cooper, Steven Humphreys, Samantha Minshall, Stephen Winstanley, Stella Wood, Claire Harris, Louise Harrison, Claire Knox, Robert Barry, Claire Harris, Simon MInshall, Steve MInshall, Alistair Burrows, Carrie Higgins, Fiona Snaith, MIchael Evans, Gordon Higham, Andrew Noone, Laura Snaith, Claire Buckley, Ben Boulton, Matthew Halliwell and Adam Yates.

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