BASS player Albert Hayward, who is 84, moved to Herefordshire over 15 years ago, leaving behind him an illustrious career that included 32 years with Covent Garden Opera House.

He quickly found a home with Hereford String Orchestra.

Bert began his playing career with his local village brass band in Sussex, later joining the Royal Artillery Band at Woolwich.

During the Second World War he served all over the world, returning to study the bass under the late Sam Sterling at the Royal Academy of Music.

He began playing with the New London Opera Company, under Alberto Erade, before moving on to the Boyd Neil Orchestra, London Philharmonic and, in 1956, Covent Garden.

Bert has many happy memories from Covent Garden, including larger than life characters like Nureyev, Domingo and Callas.

"I find the higher people are up the ladder, the more genuine and pleasant they are," he said.

He played as the foundation stone was laid for London's Festival Hall, and the Royal Princesses looked on.

He was also invited to play at Prince Charles' marriage to Lady Diana Spencer.

"When we weren't playing we could see what was happening," said Bert, who lives in Leominster.

"And we had some wedding cake to take home."

Used to looking up at the Royal box from where he sat in Covent Garden, Bert's wife would ask him what the Queen was wearing when he got home.

"If I'd forgotten to look, I'd just say blue," he said.

He continued: "We were paid an extra half crown for playing on stage, and another half for learning by heart.

"When I'm asked if I've played a piece before I say yes, and then realise it was about 50 years ago!

"As a freelance I covered pretty much everything."

Verdi and Puccini rank among his favourites, while he finds Wagner 'sadistic'.

Retiring to Herefordshire, where his son Tony lived, made sense for him and his wife, Bobbie, both keen gardeners.

"Within a few weeks I was into all sorts of things musically," he said. "It's a common language."

Although he misses the jokes from the Covent Garden pit, he admits to finding life more relaxed now that it doesn't depend on the odd wrong note.

Hereford String Orchestra performs a Symphony Concert in Leominster Priory this Saturday at 8pm.

The programme includes Schubert's Rosamunde Overture, Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto and Schumann's Symphony No 3.

Tickets are available from Outback Records, Hereford and Orchard, Hive and Vine, Leominster as well as on the door on the night.