West Yorkshire Police Band Members Reflect on Decades of Performance and Personal Fulfillment

For numerous individuals, a brass band represents an essential sound of the Christmas season. We inquired with the West Yorkshire Police’s band, which has been performing for over five decades, about its significance to its members. Brian Smith, aged 72, holds the distinction of being the band’s longest-serving member, having dedicated 52 years to the group. This baritone horn player also completed 33 years of service with the police force prior to his retirement in 2005. He initially joined the Leeds City Police Band in 1972, which subsequently merged with the Bradford Police Band in 1974 to form the West Yorkshire Police Band. Mr. Smith, who previously served as a detective constable and a force prison liaison officer for HMP Leeds, describes experiencing a feeling of “euphoria” after a successful concert. He stated, “You feel great. It’s great for self-esteem, all your cares go away.” He attributes the band’s achievements to its decision to avoid contests and instead prioritize enjoyment. “A lot of bands do contests and we’re a little bit more relaxed but we do some really good, prestigious jobs,” he commented. “We’ve played for royalty. We play for every long service medal here. We play at awards ceremonies. Anything you can think of we’ll do it at some time.” Charlotte Gibson, 21, holds the position of the band’s most recent addition. She is a student officer pursuing a degree apprenticeship through Leeds Trinity University. Her involvement with the band, playing the third cornet, commenced after she enrolled at the police training school in Wakefield in September of the previous year. She stated: “I had always been involved in bands throughout college and throughout my life and I was really interested in seeing what the police band was like.” She added, “It’s really amazing to perform alongside all these talented players and to hear stories from retired officers. It helps me get an insight into where I can go in my career.” According to Gibson, the enduring factor for the band over the years is its members’ “love for the music.” She observed, “Everyone is really dedicated to what they’re doing and you can tell they really genuinely enjoy it.” Andy Catherall, 48, a former special constable, is a tuba player in the band. Although he joined in summer 1995, he does not regard himself as a long-serving member. He is part of one of five father-and-son partnerships within the band, with his son also playing a baritone horn. He commented: “Banding is traditionally Yorkshire. We play for the communities, we play for ourselves, we make music and there’s nothing like being in a group of people with the same mindset, making lovely music.” Mr. Catherall served as a special constable for 23 years, commencing his involvement with the band two years after he started his service. He stated: “There’s lots of us who have a deep rooted affinity with the police. And we like to portray the force in a slightly different light. Often people don’t meet the police in favourable circumstances and we try to change that.” The band has performed internationally, with engagements including the fifth and 10th anniversaries of 9/11 in New York. Mr. Catherall described performing as “a mixture of nervousness and deep joy.” He elaborated, “We’ve just recently come back from a concert at the Birmingham Symphony Hall which made me nervous but each concert is taken at its own merit.” He concluded, “At the end of the day a band isn’t a band without all its different parts. I’ve played an instrument since I was 11. I’ve played in different bands but this one is special.”