Former members of the Yorkshire Imperial Metals Band of the 1970’s & 80's have been resurrecting their playing lips as they look forward to a very special concert appearance in April.

Imps Alumni

The players, some of who haven’t touched their instruments for two decades or more, decided to get back together following various conversations and reminiscences with former Imps euphonium star Ian Craddock.

The ‘Imps Alumni’ have already enjoyed one get-together rehearsal which was recently held at the Kippax Band Club, with a second planned for the 30th March at the same venue.

Something special

Ian exclusively told 4BR that what seemed like a far-fetched idea at the time, soon turned into something special.

"I would never have thought it would come to this so soon!" he laughed.

"All of a sudden the old enthusiasm is back thanks to the chance to meet up with great friends and do the thing that brought us so close together once again."

Purple patch

Despite, enjoying an extensive purple patch of major contesting successes from 1968 to 1981 – including victories at the British Open in 1970, 1971 and 1980, the National Championship of Great Britain in 1978 and the Yorkshire Regional Championship in 1968, 1970, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1980 and 1981, the Imps achievements are somewhat overlooked by banding historians.

They were also crowned BBC Band of the Year in 1981.

No worries

That though doesn’t worry Ian too much.

"We knew we were a great band and that we had plenty of great players in the ranks, all of who got on together. That’s what made those successes all the more memorable and lasting for us."

Story telling

Players such as Roy Roe, Peter Argyll, Carl Banford, Alan Briggs, Ian Harper, Ian Wilkinson, Steve Jarvis and Graham Hetherington joined the likes of former principal cornet Graham Walker and Ian himself for the first rehearsal back — although Ian revealed that the playing was regularly interrupted by plenty of storytelling and laughter as old memories were recalled!

"It was like being back in the bandroom again," he added. "The lips may not be quite in the same shape as they were all those years ago, and some of us have grown greyer, but the enthusiasm and love of playing returned as soon as the baton came down."

Yorkshire Imps changed our lives, made me lifelong friends and made sure I will always love brass band music making. That’s not a bad thing to be able to celebrate is it now?Ian Craddock

Kippax concert

The band will now work towards their first performance at the Kippax Band Club on Sunday April 13th and as Ian stated, it’s an opportunity all the players are looking forward to.

"We now have a full band, and although the stamina means we will only be able to play one half of the concert it doesn’t matter.

Playing for Yorkshire Imps changed our lives, made me lifelong friends and made sure I will always love brass band music making. That’s not a bad thing to be able to celebrate is it now?"