WHEN I hear the word culture, I don’t reach for my revolver, although I do have one in the newsdesk drawer, along with a glass and bottle of whisky - all in the case of an emergency or an Erwin Rommel moment.

No, I reach for the copy of a Daily Echo book I helped to produce two years ago, about the history of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, entitled From 1893 to the World.

This book sits proudly on my desk, always near at hand.

Those of you who are good with numbers will have worked out from the title that this is a special year.

Indeed it is a special weekend, as this shining cultural beacon that lights up pretty much the whole of the south of England celebrates it 125th anniversary.

It’s an extraordinary achievement for an extraordinary organisation, one that we are very privileged to have on our doorstep.

The BSO has a global reputation and world class musicians and chief conductor.

That the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra rightfully takes it place alongside some of the great names in music, is something of which we should all be incredibly proud.

A host of events take place across Bournemouth today and tomorrow including a celebratory concern at the Pavilion. I am looking forward to interviewing the man with the baton, Kirill Karabits, beforehand.

Karabits, who has been chief conductor since 2008, gives the BSO some of its magic dust but many others do too.

Rewind 125 years and a local newspaper reporter was despatched to cover the first performance of a new Bournemouth band comprising 30 musicians and headed by an unknown conductor, on May 22 1893 at the original, glass Winter Gardens.

The reporter wrote: “It seems as if the new band will catch on.”

He probably never wrote a truer sentence.

By the time Dan Godfrey lowered his baton, what would eventually become the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra was born.

As The Times wrote at the time: “Mr Godfrey has succeeded in making the public take a genuine interest in British music and those who make it. That a town like Bournemouth should become one of the most important centres of music in England is a curious commentary on our way of doing things.”

The BSO is much more than just an orchestra. It does a vast amount of community work with schools and hospitals, leads the way with dementia initiatives that harness the power of music. It’s a charity and a business.

Above all it is a world-class music-making wonder.

  • On the subject of history and heritage, I had the pleasure and privilege of making the toast to the ancient borough of Christchurch at the mayor making in Highcliffe Castle on Tuesday.

The mayoralty dates back to 1297 in the Priory town. Cllr Lesley Dedman was sworn in as, almost certainly, the last full ceremonial first citizen, since Christchurch Borough Council, barring a miracle, will cease to exist this time next year.

The mayor of Christchurch and indeed those of Bournemouth and Poole will be charter mayors, their role and significance substantially downgraded.

It seems that some in Bournemouth and Poole have only just woken up to this fact. For many a ceremonial mayor in these days of council cuts are an irrelevance and an extravagance.

For others they are an integral part of a town’s heritage.

I said in my speech that just because local government structure changes, history and heritage does not have to be under threat. History cannot be wiped out but it must be guarded, protected and cherished. It’s perfectly clear already that in Christchurch at least, some of those who will put their names forward to represent the borough in a new, conurbation authority, will be better suited to discharging that duty than others.

As the council’s own town centre strategy document says, ‘Our heritage guides our future.’ These are wise words, well worth bearing in mind in the months and years ahead.