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WEST YORKSHIRE BRASS ANNOUNCES THE RETIREMENT OF

CHARLES ‘CHIC’ SUTTON

Chic has decided to retire from banding due to personal reasons, having served WY Brass faithfully for almost 30 years, but has promised to stay in touch with the band. He will, no doubt, together with his wife Eileen, enjoy a day or two at the seaside whenever the band visits the east coast.

Chic started his playing career in Scotland at the age of 9 when he started playing the horn with Blacklaw School Band, Dunfermline. He then joined Lochgelly Junior band and by the age of 13 yrs he was playing with Lochgelly Senior Band, Lochgelly Junior Band, a Boys Brigade bugle band and Woodmill High School Band.

At 14 yrs of age he was accepted into the Scottish National Youth Brass band and also played with a local dance band.

At 16 years of age Chic and his family moved from Scotland to Hampshire and he played for a while with a local dance band there. At the age of 23 yrs he became a founder member of the Gosport Silver Band but some 2 years later he saw sense and moved to God’s Country (Yorkshire) where he played with Lindley Band, Wetherby Band and Horsforth Leeds City Band.

However, in 1994 he was approached to play for West Yorkshire Brass on a full time basis.

During his time in banding Chic recalls playing ‘Air from the Suite in D’ for The Queen Mother and playing at a contest with Lochgelly Band, winning all.

All members of West Yorkshie Brass wish him a long and happy retirement.

Chic, you leave a huge hole in the back row!!!

From what is probably one of the largest bandstands in the UK at Beaumont Park, Huddersfield, on Sunday 31^st July 2022, to what is possibly one of the smallest, in Hall Park, Horsforth, on the following Sunday.

BUT IF YOU CAN’T ALL GET ON THE BANDSTAND  –  IMPROVISE

I’m not sure the percussionist was entirely happy being banished to the ‘Naughty Bandstand’

Due to a number or reasons, I haven’t updated band news on our website since March. Please accept my apologies.

There being no Covid restrictions this year, band members and their guests enjoyed an excellent meal at Cleckheaton Golf Club in April.

The opening concert for 2022 on 28^th of May was at our new home St. Andrews, Undercliffe. Well attended and, judging by the applause, much appreciated by all members of the audience.

On 4^th June the bands contribution to The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend was in a cold and windy field alongside The Woolpack public house at Whitley Village. It may have been cold and windy, but the organisers and volunteers were magnificent with their hospitality. Needless to say many members of the band ended up after the event in the pub on the pretext of ‘just getting warm’.

Two short concert programs came next on 25^th June from the marketplace in Ripon, in support of a joint venture between organisers of Armed Forces Day and Ripon Theatre Festival. The weather was kind and so were the numerous comments from members of the public. I should not have to mention that many band members ended the afternoon in The One Eyed Rat. (Another pub – Of course!)

The bandstand in the lake in Peasholm Park, Scarborough, brings this report up to date.
With short excerpts from Breezin’ Down Broadway and Highland Cathedral.
Photos and video from Elizabeth Johnson.

AND I PROMISE TO KEEP THIS NEWS PAGE UP TO DATE IN FUTURE!!!