THE band formed by Huddersfield members of the Army’s Yorkshire Regiment has held its first rehearsal.

The Band of the Yorkshire Regiment is run by at C Company of the 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment and is based at the Territorial Army Centre on St Paul’s Street, near Huddersfield town centre.

It will meet at the drill hall from 7.30pm to 9.30pm each Wednesday.

Wind instrument players are still needed for the band; uniforms and a good-quality instrument will be provided.

The final number of musicians in the band is expected to be 35. Once they are fully trained they will perform at local, national and international forces events such as regimental dinners and marching displays.

As well as learning concert band and ensemble pieces they will learn to march and perform the Beating The Retreat ceremony.

The ceremony dates back to the 16th century and was first used to order patrolling soldiers back to their castles.

It is performed on two successive summer evenings each year during the Horseguards Parade at Buckingham Palace.

The minimum yearly commitment for the TA musicians is 27 days, including weekend training, two weeks’ annual camp and weekly evening rehearsals.Š

Musicians can meet new friends, improve their musical skills, receive civilian and military qualifications, travel and attend weekly rehearsals.

For this they will receive a day’s pay equal to that of a Regular Army musician and, when eligible, a tax- free bounty starting at about £385 for the first year.

If you would like to join an Army band, but not full time, the Territorial Army bands work in tandem with the Regular Army, but on a part-time basis.Š

You must be aged 17 to 43 and need to demonstrate your skills by going to an audition on your primary instrument. Š

If any local musicians are interested in joining the band they need to contact its permanent instructor, Staff Sgt Phil Kershaw on 01484 425492 / 07853 412480.

Alternatively, emailŠ yorkshireregimentband@armymail.mod.uk for further information.