Musician Patricia marks 70-year orchestral career

Patricia Chippendale joined the orchestras in 1954

A musician from Lancashire is celebrating 70 years playing with orchestras in two towns.

Oboe player Patricia Chippendale, who started playing the instrument aged nine and plays for orchestras in Burnley and Colne, said she would keep going for "as long as I can read music".

Burnley Orchestra chairman Lee Stott said her longevity was "an amazing feat".

"We’ve been going since 1918, so it's a long time, and obviously Patricia has been here for three quarters of that," he said.

Ms Chippendale started playing the oboe aged nine

Ms Chippendale joined the ensemble in 1954 and has celebrated many musical milestones since then.

“Over the years, the orchestra have awarded people for various numbers of years of service," she said.

"Twenty-one is the first one and then there was 40 and then 50 and then I got one for 60 and now I’ve achieved 70."

She added she had also recently started to play the French horn, but the oboe remained her favourite.

"Eighty is my next milestone to reach, as long as I can drive and I can read music. Fingers crossed,” she said.

Conductor Nathan Smith described Ms Chippendale as "absolutely amazing"

Conductor Nathan Smith said he was grateful for the decades of experience Patricia has brought.

“We love Patricia at Burnley, she is absolutely amazing," he said.

“The advice she gives... she has got a wealth of experience which you can share with all of us.

"I have moments where things do occasionally go wrong and Patricia is the first one to come to me and say maybe try it this way.

"And she's the loveliest person, as well. It's not just the music. You couldn’t ask for a better principal oboe."