News

Within days of the band celebrating another excellent concert in Peasholm Park, Scarborough, we were sadly informed of the passing of our longtime solo euphonium player, Keith Shuttleworth. His wife Anita is devastated to have to inform the band of such sad news.

Keith was a founder member of West Yorkshire Brass and had played euphonium with the band for almost four decades. He was also Band Secretary for many years.

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 recalled 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.

This website will report further when details of his funeral arrangements are known.

REST IN PEACE KEITH

Regular visitors to our website will know the band celebrated the 40^th Anniversary of its foundation earlier in the week on 8^th April 2026. Many members have retired, resigned or left due to ill health, and despite having suffered a heart attack himself, resulting in two operations, the only remaining founding member still with the band is our Musical Director, Peter Hellawell.

As part of the weeks celebrations, band members and their guests enjoyed a meal at Cleckheaton Golf Club where Peter was presented with a glass plaque commemorating his 40 years of loyal service.

Congratulations Peter – Keep up the good work!

On Wednesday 8th April 2026 West Yorkshire Brass was 40 years old.

English composer James Ord Hulme 1864-1932 wrote many pieces for military and brass bands. One of his lesser known compositions is The Elephant. A march, as a percussionist, I haven’t played since the late 1960’s.

Having spent more than 60 years playing marches of all descriptions, I might have claimed that there are few I cannot remember. Happily playing the vast majority of them without music.

However, The Elephant has me beaten. I’ve played it a dozen or so times recently in rehearsal, because it will feature on the program of the upcoming West Yorkshire Brass joint concert with Hall Royd Band on 18^th April at St. Andrew’s Church, Undercliffe, Bradford. But I still can’t commit it to memory!

Clearly, this mere mortal can’t compete with the reputed memory of the elephant. Or perhaps it’s an age thing. But then elephants don’t live any longer than we do!