In 1979 the then Chief Constable Browlow decided a band would be formed. Initially funds could only supply 12 instruments, and Derek Ashmoore was appointed musical director. The band consisted of Police Officers, Cadets and Special Constables and performed mainly at Police and Civic events. Early photographs show the band participating in events at the Central Methodist Hall, Victoria Street, Sheffield, Sheffield Lord mayors Parade and an event at Barnsley Civic Theatre, featuring a group called the “Barnsley bucket bashers”. In 1989 the band made its first foreign trio to Swabish Gmund, Aalen, West Germany as part of the Barnsley twin town scheme. Here we joined the Aalen Police Band at a variety of concert venues across the region. In 1990 our German friends’ visited South Yorkshire and the bands performed jointly in front of Her Majesty the Queen at the official opening of the Metrodome Centre. Since that time the band has made another return journey to Germany, and played at a variety of locations including the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham. National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, York Minster with the Normandy Veterans Parade, Clifton Cathedral, Bristol to name but a few prestigious locations. The band has played to virtually every member of the Royal Family, including a windswept performance of happy birthday to Prince Charles at Sheffield Airport. Loyd Grossman sampled the bands music during a live appearance and the band seems rarely out of the media spot light.
2011 has been a hugely successful year for the SYPB; a product of the hard work and commitment of band members and the exceptional talent of our musical director Leigh Baker.
The band competed in brass band grading second section and were awarded:
• Forth place at Butlins Mineworkers Contest in January
• Winners if the Yorkshire Area finals at Bradford
• Tenth place in the open Brighouse march contest and awarded the 'Best Deportment' prize
• Third place at the national Brass band finals in Cheltenham
The band performed over 25 events across the county and had a few excursions further afield.
The band's heraldic fanfare team went from strength to strength and performed at several fanfare engagements, with the Corps of Drums and fanfare spectacular at the Company of Cutlers Forfeit Feast was particularly memorable.
The band takes great pride in its marching capability and this year were seen at St. Georges parade, Rotherham, Oughtibridge gala, Brighouse march contest and Rotherham Remberance service.
Further showcasing the versatility of the band were the smaller octet/ten piece group provided at official mess nights, White Rose Tourism awards and the Victoria Cross rededication ceremony.
The SYPB had the privilege of playing at some prestigious events this year, including the Rotherham Mayor making ceremony, a rather soggy Brodsworth Hall, BandFest at Elsecar heritage centre, the concert to raise funds for Hatfield church roof fund and we took great honor in once again playing for the South Yorkshire Police Christmas Ball at Cutlers Hall, Sheffield.
The band continues to rehearse twice a week throughout the year, sometimes more on the run up to bigger events. The band relies on the police volunteer band members. Each gives up approximately 300 hours a year of their own time. In total over 8700 hours are devoted to making music on behalf of South Yorkshire Police, a truly impressive commitment.
Competive success came in the shape of the runner up at the Yorkshire Area Finals and 3rd in the National Brass Band Finals in September The band appears by kind permission of our Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes.
Highlights included entertaining the capacity crowds at Doncaster Racecourse for the Grand St. Ledger racing event. The fanfare team took centre stage to a crowd of 35,000 spectators and appeared live on Channel 4 racing. The band integrates closely into the local community and many of players are no longer Police Staff. Apart from serving Police Officers, we are complemented whose occupations include solicitor, nurses, teachers, accountants, students, a doctor, administrators, engineers, mechanics, a steel erector, telecommunications specialists and technical experts. The Police officers involved work in traditional local policing teams, Roads Policing and Control rooms. All give their time freely to rehearse twice a week at Rotherham Police Station. The band provides tailored musical performances for any major event and its fanfare trumpeters can herald the most prestigious events. The band competes successfully in the Yorkshire Area 2nd t section, a ferociously competitive brass band competition. The bands main work continues to be providing high quality music with messages to the communities of South Yorkshire.