In 1975, a group of scientists at the National Vegetable Research Station - now Horticulture Research International - at Wellesbourne embarked on a musical venture which few of them - if indeed any - anticipated would still be going strong 28 years later.

As well as presenting annual jazz concerts for the National Trust at Packwood House and Upton House for many years, they travelled regularly to Berkshire to play at Royal Ascot.

From the start, the objective was to play and enjoy playing as broad a range of jazz as possible. Classical New Orleans compositions by Jellyroll Morton, Joe Oliver, Louis Armstrong and many others were augmented by marches, rags, stomps, blues and gospel numbers from countless sources and the repertoire - currently some 350-400 tunes.