Brighouse & Rastrick has announced that Alan Morrison has taken the reluctant decision to retire as a contesting player and conductor.

Worldwide respect

Not only did the renowned musician hold the principal cornet seat at two of the banding world's iconic bands — Grimethorpe and Brighouse & Rastrick, but also gained worldwide respect as a soloist and recording artist on cornet, trumpet, flugel and more latterly, soprano cornet.

As a conductor he made a mark with numerous successes at all levels in the UK and abroad — including Regional and National titles, Mineworkers Championships and many domestic victories.

He also conducted Grimethorpe and Brighouse & Rastrick on the concert and contest stages as well as EYMS, Wingates, Sellers Engineering and Molde Brass in Norway amongst others.

Adjudicator

He will however remain as a Chairman for the Associated Board of Brass Band Adjudicators, where his leadership has gained widespread respect, whilst he will make his final performance with Brighouse & Rastrick at the forthcoming European Championships in Ostend.

Time

Alan told 4BR: "It's now over 50 years since I walked into my first band room at Cargo Fleet Works Junior Band near Middlesbrough, and since then I've always been involved regularly with a band as a player or conductor. The time however has come to retire gracefully into the back ground."

He added: "The last couple of years with Brighoue & Rastrick has been a fantastic experience and brings the curtain down on my playing career at the very highest level. The time is right to hand over the seat and I wish all involved in this fantastic organisation every success for the future.

Although this marks the end of my playing and conducting career, I will continue to adjudicate as and when invited and look forward to a relaxed retirement that at last allows me to improve my golf handicap."

Although this marks the end of my playing and conducting career, I will continue to adjudicate as and when invited and look forward to a relaxed retirement that at last allows me to improve my golf handicapAlan Morrison

Relaxing retirement

A spokesperson for Brighouse & Rastrick Band told 4BR: "All of the members of the Brighouse & Rastrick Band would like to thank Alan for his outstanding playing and for his commitment to the band in the Band Manage role.

We wish him a relaxing retirement with his wife, daughters and new grandchild."