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West Yorkshire Brass held its Annual General Meeting prior to rehearsal on Tuesday 16th January 2024. The meeting was sadly preceded with the announcement that Solo Euphonium, Keith Shuttleworth, would be retiring from the band with immediate effect, due to health reasons.

Keith was a founder member of West Yorkshire Brass and has played euphonium with the band for almost four decades. He has been Band Secretary throughout the last 16 years. He will be much missed, but has the very best wishes of band members for the future.

Keith began his banding career in 1956 on the reforming of Cowling Band where he was taught to play the cornet. Over the next few years he played with Skipton Prize Band and Colne Borough Band before joining Haworth Band. It was while Keith was at Haworth Band that he moved on to the Euphonium. He fondly recalls being a member of Haworth Band when they won the the 3rd. Section National Final at Fulham Town Hall with the test piece ‘Shipbuilders’.

He was principal Euphonium with Yeadon Old for a number of years before being asked to play with West Yorkshire Fire Service Band. Shortly afterwards the Fire Service Band changed to a military format. So Keith was amongst a number of the brass players who decided to form a brass band, hence the formation of West Yorkshire Brass in 1986.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

In brief: Members of the band were appointed to the following posts:-

Musical Director: Peter Hellawell
Deputy Musical Director: George Mitchell
Secretary/Treasurer: Betty Emberton
Band Sergeant: Ian Siddall
Librarian: Michael Binns.
Website Manager: David Holdsworth.
Responsiblity for Uniform: Linda Atkinson.
Responsiblity for Banners: Steven Hall. Deputy: Richard Brier.

Other Matters:

Rehearsal Room Keyholder: David Holdsworth. Deputy: Steve Galpin
Band Dinner 2024: Betty Emberton to review in due course.

Now “Get some ‘dots’ out Boss! Let’s get at it!!!”

Following recent extensive enquiries, Peter Hellawell, West Yorkshire Brass Musical Director was nowhere to be found.

Fortunately our intrepid international reporter discovered him trying to make a getaway on a camel in Morocco.

Let’s hope the camel knows how to turn around ~ 2024 rehearsals start next Tuesday.

The last West Yorkshire Brass concert of the year at St. Andrew’s Church, Undercliffe, raised in excess of £1,000 for church funds. Once again, there was not a vacant seat in the house. A full and varied program was peppered with traditional and well known Christmas items.

What a way to end the year!!!

There’s only one more thing left for me to say . . . . .

In and earlier news item I reported that West Yorkshire Brass have been invited back to Robert Park, Saltaire, in 2024. And indeed we have. However, the band has also been chosen to present a one hour concert, with a Christmas bias, from the Roberts Park Bandstand at 1pm on Saturday 9th December this year. INTERESTED??? ~ WRAP UP WELL. ~ SEE YOU THERE!!!