He'll be joining the public and members of the Northwich and District Festival Choir on Wednesday, October 7, to celebrate the choir's 50th anniversary.

Mr Lloyd Webber, who is renowned for his genius on the cello and violin, will be playing a selection of his favourite works for the occasion.

Speaking to the Guardian last week, he said: "I'm looking forward to having the chance to go back to Northwich.

"I haven't been there since the very early 80s, when I did a tour with the North West Arts board."

He'll be the special guest of the festival choir singers, playing a total of nine pieces during the programme.

"The pieces I've selected are very mixed in style and tone," Mr Lloyd Webber added.

"They're all designed to show off the cello at its very best."

And joining classics such as Faure's Elegy and Falla's Ritual Fire Dance are some of his treasured personal projects.

"Bridge's Scherzetto lay undiscovered in the Royal College of Music's library from 1901 until 1979, when I discovered it while I was doing a thesis," he added.

"So that's quite a personal favourite of mine.

"And then there's Song for Baba, which I wrote for my son when he was six weeks old. He's now 11, but the piece is still one that I like to do for the public."

Choir secretary Nancy Dale, who has been a member of the group since its inception in 1948, says the evening should bring fond memories for everyone.

"We are hoping it'll go with a bang," said Nancy.

"It's wonderful to have Julian coming along to entertain us, and his accompanist, John Lenehan, is very famous as well.

"The choir has given me and many others such happy memories, and that's why we wanted to celebrate in style."

The choir's programme includes Scarborough Fair, Zadok The Priest - and a medley of Andrew Lloyd Webber's works in tribute to Julian.

Tickets cost £10, £7.50 and £5. They're available from Northwich library and the Memorial Hall, or from Nancy on 01606 42641.

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