The death has been announced of the former Yorkshire Imperial Metals conductor Peter Kitson.

He died on the 29th February aged 84. The funeral took place in Wakefield on the 27th March.

Distinguished

In a long and distinguished musical and educational career he enjoyed considerable success as a player, conductor, band trainer and adjudicator.

Although he enjoyed a particularly successful association as resident conductor with Yorkshire Imperial Metals Band during their extended period of success in the late 1970s and early 1980s working alongside conductors such as John Pryce Jones, his first major success as a conductor came with Leeds Model Band at the Senior Cup in 1961 — a band he enjoyed a fine tenure with, including a Yorkshire Second Section title in 1967.

He also led the Lockwood Band to the Second Section National Championship of Great Britain title in 1972.

Inspirational

He was also an inspirational conductor of young players — leading Wakefield Youth Band to British Youth Championship victory in 1973, the Yorkshire Fourth Section title the following year and the National Championship of Great Britain Third Section title in 1975.

Sirdar Wakesfield also won the Second Section Area title under his direction in 1978.

Further Yorkshire titles came with York Railway Institute in 1975 (Second Section), a top section Pontins National title with Lockwood in 1976 and a Yorkshire Area Second Section title in 1984.

Success

He claimed a third National title success with Lockwood in the Second Section in 1984 and a final Yorkshire Area title with Stanley Newmarket Colliery in the Fourth Section in 1998.

His final title success came with Crofton Silver in winning the National Mineworkers Third Section title in 1999.