'Brass bands are great for self-esteem, all your cares go away'

A brass band is a crucial sound of Christmas for many people.

We asked West Yorkshire Police's band, which has been playing for more than 50 years, what it means to them.

Brian Smith, 72, is the longest-serving member of the band, with 52 years under his belt.

The baritone horn player also managed to fit in 33 years service with the force before he retired in 2005.

He joined Leeds City Police Band in 1972 before it was amalgamated with Bradford Police Band becoming the West Yorkshire Police Band in 1974.

Mr Smith, who was a detective constable and force prison liaison officer for HMP Leeds, says a good concert gives him a feeling of "euphoria".

"You feel great. It's great for self-esteem, all your cares go away."

He puts the band's success down to staying out of contests and focusing on enjoyment.

"A lot of bands do contests and we're a little bit more relaxed but we do some really good, prestigious jobs," he says.

"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, is the band's newest member.

She is a student officer studying for a degree apprenticeship with Leeds Trinity University.

She started playing third cornet in the band after joining the police training school in Wakefield in September last year.

She says: "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.

"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.

"The thing that keeps the band going over the years is the love for the music.

"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, plays tuba in the band.

Despite joining in summer 1995, he doesn't consider himself a long-serving member. Alongside his son, who plays a baritone horn, he is one of five father-and-son partnerships in the band.

He says: "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 was a special constable for 23 years and began playing with the band two years after he began serving.

He says: "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 across the world, including the fifth and 10th anniversaries of 9/11 in New York..

Mr Catherall says performing is "a mixture of nervousness and deep joy".

"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.

"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."

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