MUSICIAN Arthur Burcombe can still play a mean tune on the violin at the age of 100.

Arthur, who turned 100 today, moved to York in 1937 to start a job at the old railway carriageworks, in Holgate, where he remained until his retirement 33 years later.

But the greatest love of his life has always been music, and Arthur is one of the last surviving members of York's Dance Band era.

And when York Oral History Society published its account of popular music in the city, Arthur featured prominently in it.

Arthur played in professional orchestras for several light operatic societies, including the two main ones in York at the Theatre Royal, and the New Earswick and Pickering Societies.

He has been a member of a number of local string quartets and, in addition, several local amateur musicians will remember him as a music teacher and coach.

A great highlight came when he was asked to play viola in the orchestra for the touring London production of Peter Pan, which used to visit the Theatre Royal during the 1960s.

That gave him the opportunity to work with some of the screen greats of the day, including John Gregson, Anne Haywood and Alastair Sim.

Born in Darlington on November 21, 1905, Arthur lived for many years in Holgate, in Lindley Street and Beech Avenue, before moving in to Red Lodge Retirement Home, in New Earswick, with his wife, Molly, who died in 2002.

They married during the Blitz in 1940 and honeymooned in London.

Although no longer able to play the saxophone or clarinet, he still enjoys his violin, and played a few tunes for his family and guests at a birthday party at Red Lodge on Saturday.

Updated: 10:42 Monday, November 21, 2005