THE Music Pool has waited for the right person to appoint its patron, and that person arrived on its doorstep in February.

Renowned musician Julian Lloyd Webber was in Hereford to perform at the Courtyard at the invitation of Hereford Concert Society.

Approached by the society to set up an afternoon workshop for Julian and young cellists in the county, the organisation took the opportunity to evidence its inclusive approach.

Julian's normal practice is to gather half-a-dozen skilled young musicians and lead them through a musical masterclass.

For the community music charity, whose emphasis is on involving as many people as possible of all ages and abilities, they wanted to open the session up.

Herefordshire has recently been blessed with a renaissance in cello teaching and local cello teacher Steward Debenham felt a different approach was needed.

With Julian's agreement, 25 young Herefordshire cellists got together at the Courtyard, along with some older players.

The children had an inspiring time and Julian invited them to join him on stage at the end of his concert to perform his brother Andrew's I Don't Know How To Love Him.

During the course of the day The Music Pool's Rob Strawson popped the question to Julian - whose out-of-London football team is, incidentally, Hereford United - would he be interested in becoming the charity's patron?

The extensive work with pre-school children, multi-arts schools' projects, music and dance for those with special needs, arts for older people and involvement in major choral projects all had the star fascinated.

A few days later he wrote to accept.