Val Howarth made his name directing bands on cruise liners such as the Mauritania, the Homeric and the Lancastria from the 1920s onwards. He was a classically trained violinist who, at some point in his career, played in the Halle Orchestra and is understood to have been a child prodigy.

The accompanying photograph, taken from the Melody Maker for May 1928 shows Val and his "Lancastrians" on board the RMS Lancastria (described as a new "Cunard" liner).
The musicians are named as: Val Howarth (leader, saxophones & violin); Les Hayes (clarinet, saxophones & violin); Billy Brown (piano, banjo & arranger); Ernie Price (piano); Frank Hopper (violin); Ron Freeley (banjo & 'cello); Stan Kendall (drums & 'cello); Eric Stead (trombone & string bass).
Although the number of musicians match the number in the photo, it is nigh impossible to determine who is who because of the variance of instruments. I would be very grateful if anyone can let me know which musician is which. Val Howarth himself is in the back row in the centre, holding a tenor saxophone.

In 1933, Val and his current band were playing on the RMS Homeric and at the same time recorded four titles for Columbia. These are listed below.  

To download & hear these, right-click on the titles and choose "save target as". Once downloaded  to your computer, you can play them.