January

The band had a quiet start to the year and some uncertainty over a replacement conductor continued.  Leigh Baker and Ian Scott were taking rehearsals. April and Michael Farthing registered with us from Thurcroft. Martin, the third Farthing arrived on bass later in the year.

February  

An excellent win at the Derby Contest with Leigh Baker conducting James Cook's Circumnavigator, several trophies now need returning! After Derby, Nyssa Craig joins the back row, and Ian Scott prepares the band for the Area Contest.  

March  

Bradford, The Area Contest -. Whilst Ian Scott worked us hard, we just didn't do enough to get the result needed and came 11th out of 14 bands. Leigh took back the conducting baton and the band had a real buzz but he couldn't commit to us fulltime, so we advertised  and embarked on conductor road testing. Departures – David Ablett on Soprano, and Tony Cooper (euph) gave notice of his transfer to Stannington in September 2008. 

April  

South Yorkshire Police sports awards ceremony at Niagara conducted by Elliot Darwin.

St. Marks Church (Grenoside) for Stacey's wedding conducted by Robin Morgan. The band concluded the month by marching 2000 scouts and guides on the St. Georges Day Parade. Cold and tired we found kindness and coffee in Doncaster Museum prior to the Scouts return march. 

May  

Laughton Church conducted by Alan Coe. Memorable because  the choir was missing, so we had a full programme to find minutes before starting.

8th – Cutlers Feast – 4 fanfare trumpeters play to a packed Cutlers Hall and hear William Hague’s after dinner speech and sample some fine food.

9th - Pride of South Yorkshire Police awards ceremony. A new event for the band and the force. Compared by Harry Gration and our Chief Constable. The drama for the band was that Leigh's young daughter was rushed into hospital and David Gordon (2nd cornet and founder member for new players) donned on his dinner jacket to conduct the band.  The band tried to match music to the type of award being presented (Life on the Ocean Wave for awards after the floods) however Waltzing Matilda took some explaining.

10th - 3 jobs in three days, the band performed at the idyllic Shottle Hall at Claire Hurst's wedding (former percussionist)

25th – our annual trip to the Wetherby Bandstand went well and a pint and cod from the Wetherby Whaler went down well. 

June

Niagara Club for the final concert of the Stocksbridge Band Club conducted by Alan Coe, not one of our best concerts.

3rd – David Gordon resigns, followed by Ian Harris (front row) and Keith Lawton (euph)

10th – Penistone Mayors Parade, an annual fell march around a hilly village. The event was saddened by the sudden death of PC Daryl Marshall (46 years), the event organiser and good friend of the band

21st – Summer Ball, the longest day, one of our sponsors events and memorable by hotel staff closing the door on our audience as we were playing! 

July 

12th Cairn Home for the Blind, Sheffield. One of our smallest engagements, dodged the shower, and polished off their tea and cakes.

27th – York Minster and the very proud Normandy Veterans Association. A long hot but rewarding day. Vicky Whelan makes her first appearance on euphonium. Jonathan Hurst becomes our resident doctor and front row cornet player. 

August

this year we decided on a full month off, a welcome rest.

September

4th - Sheffield University social event for the Department of Works and Pensions. It became Alan Coe's last engagement with us.

14th – Hardraw Scar, with limited preparation Leigh Baker took us to a very rain swept contest in the middle of a muddy field. We played well and it was the start of Leigh's fulltime commitment to us.

27th – Salvation Army Concert, Doncaster – Morgan Griffiths conducts and Michael Farthing plays a neat xylophone duet and its Zoe Hurst’s first concert with us. 

October

Fanfare team are busy again outside both Leeds and Sheffield Crown Court to herald the start of the legal year.

2nd – York Railway Museum – A European policing event holds it dinner on the station platform and are serenaded by brass. Top buffet, and all round nice engagement.

17th – a return to Ardsley House Hotel for the a Policeman's Charity Ball in aid of a very poorly girl . 

November

9th Remembrance Service, Rotherham. The bands marching continued to it's usual high standard and Craig (trom) kindly conducted at the cenotaph.

15th – Musicians of the future brass musicians. Rotherham Music schools concert has forged more excellent relations. It's worth remembering that Chris Lever, Wendy Hart, April, Michael and Martin Farthing plus numerous ex-players have passed through this local music service. We are already planning a return visit.

28th – first Christmas engagement at Bramley Sunnyside School, remembered for its smell of burgers. 

December

5th – Victoria Hall – Royal Society for the Blind – a fine concert with a good choir. Again nice food was a feature of the event. We are re-joined by Chris Lever on principal cornet, a welcome addition to the front row.

7th – St. Mary's church, Barnsley for the Hospice light up a life concert, a long day but watching the Christmas lights switch on and 700 light sticks being snapped into action followed by a wonderful vocalist was memorable.

8th – Fire Service College – 12 Days of Christmas and a raffle

14th – Niagara – a dry audience to start but useful run out of our choreography for the Armed Man and Little Drummer Boy

16th – 5 players turned out for an hours worth of carols at Barnsley Hospice.

20th – Cutlers Hall, Senior Officers Mess Night – a long night for the two solo cornets but the standing ovation for the Armed man , Corps of Drums solos etc made it all worth while (the curry after went down well too)

23rd – Meadowhall – The bands first visit to this large shopping centre and we played a full band to an appreciative audience. We raised £239 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

www.policeband.co.uk

Since 16th May the Bands had 48 concert/CD/Info requests come through from the website. We are adding information to it all the time and is now the place to look for information about the band. Don’t forget to log on to see much more than the “public” view. A big thank you for Gemma Leach for nagging and encouraging the web team into action.