THE programme for Sunday’s John Barry tribute concert at York Barbican looks set to become a collector’s item for fans of the Oscar-winning composer.

Organisers of the “York celebrates John Barry” concert say the glossy programme includes pictures of the late York-born composer with stars such as Louis Armstrong and Frankie Vaughan, and also tributes from music producer Sir George Martin and personal recollections from Barry’s York friends.

Graham Bradbury, a member of the Lord Mayor’s fundraising committee, which is organising the event, said programmes for a similar tribute concert held at the Royal Albert Hall earlier this year were selling for £40 on eBay shortly afterwards, and he thought this might also happen with the Barbican event.

Sir George Martin writes in the programme of how he and John Barry had met when they were “fledglings” working at Abbey Road Studios in the mid-1950s.

“When John was asked to handle a theme for a new movie he was able to take a fairly nondescript tune and transform it into a fantastic sound,” he said.

“His experience of big bands came into play and I could hear influences of Stan Kenton in the high and discordant brass band that gave it such an edge.

“That arrangement became synonymous with the image of James Bond, a truly iconic piece of music. He went on to score a dozen Bond films and many other blockbuster movies.”

John Barry’s sister, June Lloyd-Jones, says in the programme it is “wonderful that the people of the city of York wish to pay tribute to my brother in this way”.

Ian Forster writes in the programme how John Barry lived next door to him on Hull Road when they were children.

He said he remembered when Barry first became musically minded.

“He came with us on holiday down to Penzance in the old Austin and when we stopped for a sandwich Pop said to me: ‘For God’s sake get him (Barry) to stop whistling Ravel’s Bolero’.”