News

With much regret Ian Siddall has decided to retire from the band due to health reasons.

Ian started banding at the age of eight on Bb cornet, as many do in the Salvation Army.
At 18 he joined the Royal Air Force as a Musician and spent the next 5 years having the time of his life, travelling the world playing at venues like The Royal Festival Hall, Albert Hall, Edinburgh Tattoo, the Earls Court Royal Tournament and many others.

After leaving the R.A.F. he had a few years in the Doldrums with not much playing at all, until he found Friendly Band, moving to Soprano Cornet.

Due to personal circumstances, Ian stopped playing until he resumed ten years ago, again with Friendly Band. Since then he has played with Wilsden Band (which became BD1 Brass) moving from Soprano back to Bb cornet, Brass Ten on Flugel Horn, and now West Yorkshire Brass, in March of 2020 moving from 1st Baritone back to Flugel Horn.

Ian will not be a stranger to the band because he retains his position as Band Sergeant.

Keith Rose, a West Yorkshire Brass founder member, has, sadly, passed away. Keith played trombone when the band was formed. He subsequently went to live in Australia, but after a series of illnesses died on 28th January. After emigrating he persistently complained that he missed playing with West Yorkshire Brass despite joining other fellow musicians in Australia.

RIP KEITH

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.