4BR has been informed of the death of former Brighouse & Rastrick principal cornet player Tony Whitaker, who passed away on Sunday 17th August, aged 71. He leaves a wife, Linda and two daughters.

Quality

A performer of remarkable quality and assuredness, and a man of great modesty and loyalty, he was appointed principal cornet at Brighouse & Rastrick in 1966, following successful spells as a cornet player with the Lindley Band and Black Dyke.

Over the following years he became one of the fulcrums of the Yorkshire band’s success under the baton of Walter Hargreaves, James Scott and Geoffrey Brand, playing an integral part in their famous 1968 National Championship of Great Britain victory on ‘The Mastersingers’ — their first Albert Hall victory since 1946.

That victory was repeated the following year (both titles given the added epithet of ‘World Champion’) on ‘High Peak’, with a third triumph under James Scott taking place in 1973 on ‘Freedom’.

Right hand man

In his letter of congratulation to the band on their 100th anniversary in 1980, Walter Hargreaves said that Tony Whitaker had, ‘…almost worked himself to death for Brighouse — he was in every sense my right hand man in the band.’

Open victory

In a strange quirk of banding fate, Tony was principal cornet on the day the band also ended their 42 year wait for the British Open title in 1978 on ‘Benvenuto Cellini’ under Geoffrey Brand, with Walter Hargreaves conducting Fairey into sixth place.

In his written remarks on the day, adjudicator Sir Vivian Dunn stated, ‘…the top solos had an air of finesse and were well able to make musicianly effects by virtue of really capable technique’.

He also played principal cornet on the band’s successful foray into the pop world with ‘The Floral Dance’ and later returned to Black Dyke in 1980 for a short and highly successful tenure before taking on increasing conducting commitments with the likes of Slaithwaite, Kippax and East Yorkshire Brass, who he led to the Yorkshire Area Second Section title in 1993.

Conductor

He later also conducted Drighlington and Elland Silver and became one of the founder members of the celebrated ‘Kings of Brass’, who will reunited to play at his funeral.

Tony Whitaker had …almost worked himself to death for Brighouse — he was in every sense my right hand man in the bandWalter Hargreaves

Tributes

Tributes have been paid by many friends in the banding movement; with former Cory soprano star Gwyn Thomas stating: "Tony was a wonderful man, a great friend and superb player. Banding has lost someone of great stature."

David Horsfield added: "Tony replaced me on top man at Brighouse in 1966 and went on to become a superb player. He was a lovely man, modest to fault, but someone who had achieved great things."

Funeral arrangements

The funeral will take place at the Central Methodist Church in Brighouse on Tuesday 26th August at 11.15am, followed by a crematorium service at Park Wood Elland at 12.45pm and a reception at Brighouse Sports & Social Club.