The death has been announced of the respected cornet and flugel player, Carl Bamford.

He was a member of the Yorkshire Imperial Metals Band which won the British Open Championship in 1970, 1971 and 1981, the National Championship of Great Britain in 1978 as well as numerous other titles.

Banding

Born into a banding family, his father played in Yorkshire Copper Works Band, which was later to become Yorkshire Imperial. Taken to rehearsals, Carl took up playing aged 10 with his talent soon recognised in playing with Leeds Model Band under the baton and tutelage of Peter Kitson.

In 1966 he joined Yorkshire Imps, first on cornet before moving to flugel horn and establishing a fine reputation as a band player and soloist — something noted by the adjudicators on their 1971 Open success on Eric Ball's 'Festival Music'.

Personal highlight

Admired by players and conductors alike, he admitted that his personal highlight was playing for John Pryce Jones when Imps won the Yorkshire Area on Edmund Rubbra's 'Variations on the Shining River' in 1981 — a performance that gained 199 points from judges Geoffrey Brand and Kenneth Dennison.

After retiring from Yorkshire Imps, Carl played with a number of local First and Championship Section bands including Lindley, Lockwood and Timperley.

Sadly missed

Family friend Mark Tweedle stated: "Carl will be sadly missed by his loving family and also his many banding friends, including his former Imps colleagues with whom he kept in close contact. Condolences go to his wife Vivien and his two children Robert and Suzanne."