THE brass band world has lost one of its longstanding and most dedicated members.

Mr Douglas Hodge, 82, passed away in France.

His love of banding started in Huddersfield at the age of 10 when he joined his local branch of the Salvation Army. In 1945 he was asked to lead its junior band and thus began a lifetime of music teaching.

After his National Service he returned home and joined the Huddersfield Youth Committee. He organised the local parade of all uniformed youth organisations celebrating the Festival Of Britain.

It was such a success it led to the formation of the Salvation Army Divisional Youth Band.

Alongside his teaching he enjoyed playing with local bands including Lindley, Meltham and Meltham Mills and Linthwaite.

He became involved with Milnsbridge Youth Club and formed a band with friends and family members.

In the early 1970s he founded Paddock Youth Band, again using friends, neighbours and family, now including his own children. Hundreds of local youngsters enjoyed playing in the band over the next two decades, being greatly influenced by his love of banding, his generous spirit and his never ending patience.

Mr Hodge organised several trips throughout the UK playing in concerts, parades and competitions. He welcomed a band from Bergen, Norway in 1979 making a return trip the following year with Paddock Youth Band.

Due to a change in family circumstances Douglas and his daughter Rachel moved to Cornwall in 1993 where he immediately joined the local band.

He became conductor/director of Camelford’s Town Band, teaching many youngsters to play and they too profited from his dedication and energy.

In 2001 he moved to Brittany, France, where he joined two bands and continued to teach both English and French youngsters.

He maintained his Norwegian connections, taking Cornish and French band members to Bergen and welcoming their bands in both Cornwall and Brittany.

Mr Hodge’s passion for teaching and playing never diminished and he was at his happiest with his baton in hand and a band of youngsters to conduct.