Review of the Joint Concert with Hebden Bridge Junior Band and Friendly Band (Sowerby Bridge) in Memory of, and to Celebrate the Life of, Richard Brook
Compère
Edward Crombie welcomed the audience of over 400 which included Richard’s
parents, Harry and Elizabeth Brook, and his fiancée Keri Turner. Also present
were Sir Donald and Lady Thompson, Mayor and Mayoress of Calderdale, Cllr Peter
Coles and Mrs Coles, and Hebden Royd Mayor and Mayoress CllrTed Parkinson and
Cath Kaye. Many others present were former fellow Band members, parents and
friends of Richard’s from Halifax Rugby Union Football Club.
After
the National Anthem, Brian Haydn Robinson, Musical Director of Hebden Bridge
Junior Band led his young musicians straight into “Come Follow the Band /
Swing March”. Following a booming bass introduction by Joel Turner, the
spotlight fell centre stage on percussionists Edward Dixon and Nick Moors. This
particular piece revived special memories for those who had known Brookie. In
November 1993, the Junior Band had taken the part of Horace Vandergelder’s
marching band in the Halifax Light Opera production of “Hello Dolly”. Every
night, Richard had led the Band down through the auditorium, up steps and across
the orchestra pit to the stage by means of a perilously narrow gangplank. All
the while he had kept the beat on his side drum and skilfully choreographed the
Band’s timing to coincide with that of the resident theatre orchestra.
That was during Brookie’s
second period in Junior Band. He had originally joined as a very enthusiastic
cornet player in 1989 when he was 13. The next three years saw him also develop
as an accomplished percussionist travelling with Junior Band on their French and
Danish tours. In 1992, he left Junior Band for the Royal Marine’s School of
Music.
When
he left the Marines a year later, Brookie rejoined Junior Band, finally leaving
on his 19th birthday in January 1995. Seeming equally at ease with
solo cornet or percussion, he travelled with Junior Band to Euro Disney.
Richard’s
involvement with Band did not stop when he left. He was always happy to step in
and help when needed and in addition to his drumming and cornet-playing skills,
he became a popular and much-respected deputy conductor.
When
Brookie accompanied Junior Band on its 1998 Norwegian Tour as deputy conductor
he made a whole new set of friends from the youngest new players to parents and
grandparents. His reliability, cheerfulness and sense of fun added greatly to
everyone’s enjoyment of the tour.
It
was shortly after conducting the band at Shelf Gala last year, he became aware
of his illness, and although he received treatment, did not respond and
deteriorated rapidly.
The
programme continued with Hebden Bridge Junior Band’s lively rendition of
Rimmer’s arrangement of Verdi’s “Nabucco” overture. This was followed by
“Eternal Flame” and two movements of Holst’s beautiful Second Suite in F
major. The Junior Band then joined the audience as Friendly Band moved forward
to perform their section of the concert.
Edward
Crombie introduced Friendly’s Musical Director, Graham Hooper who moved
straight into Edward Gregson’s “Prelude for an Occasion”. This was
followed by “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, Darrol Barry’s arrangement of
the wonderful “The Wind Beneath
My Wings” and the all-time classic “Cherry Pink”. Friendly completed their
section with Mussorgsksy’s exciting “The Great Gate of Kiev”. This gave
Junior Band’s George Day, on loan to Friendly for the occasion, the
opportunity to display his percussive skills and tackle Friendly’s
impressively huge Chinese gong. This not only filled the hall with resonant
booms but created hypnotic and sparkling reflections so appropriate to such a
stirring piece of music.
After
the interval, the raffle was drawn and 18 prizes distributed. This raised a
total of £250. Along with all other proceeds from the concert, this is to be
donated to Calderdale Macmillan Appeal and The Friends of the Leukaemia and
Lymphoma Unit at Leeds General Infirmary. One in three people will develop
cancer at some time in their life. Macmillan’s work to help people living with
cancer relies on the support of individuals, companies, groups, organisations
and schools to fund new and existing services.
Richard
underwent treatment at Leeds General Infirmary. The Calderdale Macmillan Appeal
aims to supply similar, and enhanced, resources locally and is establishing a
purpose built Cancer Care Unit on the ground floor of the new Halifax General
Hospital. Cancer sufferers in Calderdale already have five Macmillan nurses to
support their families and themselves in all stages of their illness, but most
still need to travel to Leeds or other centres for treatment adding to their
stress at an already difficult time. The Calderdale Macmillan Appeal is
attempting to raise £800,000 to provide our local unit. It will house cancer
specialists including a Palliative Care Consultant, and nurses specialising in
breast cancer, colo-rectal cancers, haematology and lymphodema. The unit will
offer support, advice, information and counselling for both patients and
families. In addition, their education service to other health professionals
will help to raise standards of cancer care generally. The proposed day care
unit for patients needing chemotherapy and other forms of treatment or
palliative care will provide a service which can not at present be offered
locally.
During
the interval, Phoebe Hallgarth and Kathryn Siddal presented bouquets to Mrs
Brook and Keri Turner.
After
the raffle, the performance area had been enlarged to accommodate a total of 70
musicians. Hebden Bridge Junior and Friendly Bands were joined by other friends
of Richard’s. These were Ian Coleman, Musical Director of Hebden Bridge (Walkley’s)
Brass Band and two of his players.
Brian
Robinson conducted this impressive ensemble in Ron Goodwin’s “Aces High”.
He followed this with the Vangelis’s film theme from “1492; Columbus”,
“Conquest of Paradise” which gave George Day another splendid chance to
thump that gong. How Richard would have relished it!
The
next piece played by the combined bands was Van McCoy’s “The Hustle”;
something played many times by Brookie himself as solo cornet. Brian Robinson
was then joined on stage by Friendly’s principal cornet, Glyn Yardley, and
under the baton of Graham Hooper we were treated to a virtuoso “Peel Gallop”
post horn duet. At this point, Graham announced the departure of Glyn Yardley
for the Marsden Band and a presentation was made in recognition of his services
to the Band.
Graham
Hooper conducted the joint bands in their final two pieces, “All Through the
Night” and Derek Broadbent’s arrangement of “Music”. The house called
for an encore, which of course they got, in the form of Ray Farr’s lovely
arrangement of Barry Manilow’s “One Voice”.
The
proceeds of the concert are yet to be finally calculated. This includes
admission, programme sales and an exit collection and donations in addition to
the raffle. However, it is estimated that the sum of £1,200 will be donated
jointly to the charities of the Calderdale Macmillan Appeal and The Friends of
the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Unit at Leeds General Infirmary.