Nottinghamshire Police Band can trace its origins to the Nottingham Police Borough Band, formed in about 1887. The first recorded engagement was performed at the Mayor’s annual garden party.
In those days the Police Service was very much run on military terms and the band was formed on the same basis. Players were serving and retired Police Officers and others were invited to assist.
Very little music was written specifically for Military bands and the repertoire consisted mainly of arrangements of adapted orchestral works. Engagements took place throughout the year and during the summer months the band featured in many of the parks in and around Nottingham. Invited guests conducted the band but 1896 saw the first serving Police Officer appointed to the post of Director of Music. When Queen Victoria decreed in 1897 that Nottingham would become a City the band was renamed the Nottingham City Police Band
It was during this time that the then Chief Constable, Mr Cloy, regularly enjoyed conducting the band and took the baton at many of its functions.
For many years the band continued to feature prominently in Nottingham’s social calendar. There was a short break in continuity during the First World War, but the band reconvened and continued to function up until the start of the Second World War. As many Police Officers were drafted into the armed services at this time the band continued as the Nottingham City Special Constabulary Military Band.
After the war Captain Popkiss took the baton for a time and, after his retirement as Director of Music, the position was taken by a succession of retired Army Bandmasters.
The band played on into the 1950’s, continuing to be a regular part of the Nottingham scene, taking part in radio broadcasts, and annual charity concerts, with guest compères such as Michael Aspel, Hughie Green and Shaw Taylor among others.
Up until the 1960’s there were no female members of the band, but as the police began to recruit more female officers, those with musical talents made themselves known, and the band started to have female members
In 1968 the City and County Police Forces amalgamated and the band continued as the Nottingham Combined Constabulary Band, still with great demand for its services.
Nottingham is twinned with the city of Karlsruhe in Germany, and the band was hosted by the Karlsruhe Police Band on several occasions, attracting great interest and acclaim in that city as it performed to the delight of local people. The relationship with Karlsruhe Police Band led to many long-standing friendships and their band has made several return visits to Nottingham.
Another change of name in 1998 to the Nottinghamshire Police Wind Orchestra reflected the band’s modern approach at that time.
Early in the new Century the band changed its name again to the ‘Nottinghamshire Police Band’, with a comment from an older band member that this change was due to the cost of all the letters required to be printed on the band music folders.
While in previous years the police band could enjoy a healthy number of police officers within the ranks of the band, due to the cut backs in Musical education in schools, and the reduction in music being made by our armed forces, the number of serving officers with the necessary skills and interest have reduced over the years, and today, the band only has a few serving officers as members of the band, and most of the Band members come from all walks of life, from the NHS to computing, and Prison Officers to Care homes.
The strong and friendly team of musicians continues to support the police and the wider community in Nottinghamshire, playing at a variety of events including Police medal ceremonies, dinner nights, concerts, and the band is proud to support local and national charities by performing at fundraising events around Nottinghamshire.
Special mention must be made of Len Greatorex. Len played the Bass Trombone with the band for roughly 65 years, and only recently left the band due to failing eyesight, not due to any reduction in his ability to play. Len will be greatly missed by the band.
If you have any information, memories or memorabilia connected to the Nottinghamshire Police Band over the years we would love to hear from you.
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Sunday 9th February 2014 Fundraising Event for Lark Hill Village.
Saturday 22nd March 2014 Annesley Church, baton down at 7:00pm.
Friday 25th April 2014 Nottinghamshire Police Band are pleased to be playing at a charity concert in aid of Emmanuel House Homeless Charity (Nottingham). We’re playing at St. Barnabus Cathedral Church, North Circus Street (off Derby Road), Nottingham, NG1 5AE, on Friday 25th April 2014, starting at 7:30 pm.
Saturday 8th November 2014 St. Peter’s Parish Church Warsop, for the Royal British Legion. And the start of the Poppy Appeal.
Saturday 6th December 2014 Turner Hall in the evening at 7:00pm, featuring Christmas music to get you in the mood for this festive season.
Tuesday 16th December 2014 Emergency Services Carol Service. Southwell Minster. These services are open to the general public to celebrate the work of our emergency services.
Saturday 20th December 2014 An Evening Christmas Concert at the Roman Catholic Church in Warsop.
Saturday 2nd March 2013 Marriott
Hotel, Peterborough, PE2 6GB. Playing
for the reunion of the Royal Fusiliers
Thursday 21st March 2013 Albert
Hall, Nottingham. Evening performance
for a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal Ceremony.
Friday 10th May 2013 Albert
Hall, Nottingham. Evening performance
for a ceremony to pay tribute to officers on duty during the riots of 2012.
Sunday 12th May 2013 Newark
County Show. Lunchtime performance for
the Nottinghamshire community.
Sunday 16th June 2013 Southwell
Minster. A morning service (11:00) with
the Sheriff Of Nottingham, to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the coronation
of the Queen.
Saturday 29th June 2013 Newstead
Abbey. Byron Festival.
Saturday 6th July 2013 Lenton
Abbey Park. Community Fun Day.
Friday 19th July 2013 East
Drayton Parish Church. An evening
concert to help with Fundraising for a new roof.
Monday 28th October 2013 Albert
Hall, Nottingham. Evening performance
for a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal Ceremony for Nottinghamshire Police
Officers.
Saturday 2nd November 2013 Warsop
Parish Church. For the Royal British
Legion and the start of the Poppy Appeal
Saturday 23rd November 2013 Monte
Carlo – 6th annual gala of the International Police Association, at the
prestigious Hotel Hermitage in the principality of Monaco. By road this will take 18 hrs (ish). How we
suffered for our art !
Wednesday 18th December 2013 Joint
Emergency Services Christmas Carol Service, Southwell Minster