Brassed Off? Yeadon Town Hall Remedy!

The soothing tones of one of Britain’s top brass bands will emanate from the gothic walls of Yeadon Town Hall in Leeds later this month, as BBC celebrity musician Frank Renton returns to the town for his 18th appearance.

Guest conductor, Mr Renton, better known as the voice behind BBC Radio Two’s former brass and military band programme, ‘Listen to the Band’, was born in Bradford in 1939 and began playing the trumpet at the age of 10.

Since then he has carved a reputation as one of the top conductors in the country and, on 26th October, makes a welcome return to Yeadon Town Hall with the Hepworth Band, as part of the charity fund raising concert, Festival of Brass.

The brass band, originally formed in the village of Hepworth, near Holmfirth, in 1882, is one of the longest-established in the country and now competes in the Championship Section, making it one of the best brass bands in the UK. It is also a Frank Renton favourite.

Mr Renton first earned a living as a professional trumpet-player, gaining conducting experience whenever possible and in 1967 won a competition for young conductors at the Edinburgh Festival. Appointments followed in Germany and Singapore, where he conducted the first performances of the country's fledgling symphony orchestra. He also worked throughout the Far East.

After his return to England in the mid-70s, Frank variously ran a music school in York, played with Versatile Brass, and eventually began working with the BBC Concert and Radio Orchestras. He also worked with the famed Grimethorpe Colliery Band.

The Yeadon concert, which is being staged by Aireborough Rotary Club, is raising money for charity and will also be performed in memory of Gerald Long, a well-known Rotarian in Aireborough who died recently.

Tickets cost £13 including programme. They can be purchased from John Kitching on 07753 434 214. The concert starts at 7.30pm.