In December 1952 the Stockport Borough Police Band were earmarked to play at the Mayoral 'opening' of the Civic Christmas Tree in the local town centre.

Somehow orders were confused. By the time weary Bobbies had marched for fifteen minutes on the wrong circuitous route, an irate Mayor, Councillors and everyone else had long departed!

Determined that the show must go on, the band played its heart out until a large crowd of shoppers gathered to turn the potential disaster into a memorable Christmas party!

Although Stockport amalgamated with Cheshire Constabulary in 1967, the band was based in the town until Local Government Reorganisation six years later.

In 1971 and 1972 the band made two appearances at the National Brass Band Finals 4th section at the Royal Albert Hall. On both occasions the band were placed in the top six. Not bad considering the band was made up entirely of Police Officers. The band line up was:

Soprano

Jim GENDERS

Front row cornets

Dick ROGERS
Ronnie CLAYTON
Christopher LEIGH
Brain WILDE

Flugel Horn

Joyce HOLT

Repiano

Mike GREAVES

2rd cornets

Stan ROGERS
Brian DAVIES

3rd cornets

John BOWDEN
Ernie NIXON

Horns

Jack MEREDITH
Freddie PATON
Jim BAIN
Mike POWER
Heather KILSHAW (later HEYWOOD)

Euphoniums

Gwilym WILLIAMS
Dick SMITH
Steve HEYWOOD

Baritones

Geoff HALL
David COCHRANE


Trombones

Doug MOORES
Freddie CODLING
Stan LAW
Stan DOBBINS
Joe MOORES (father of Doug but was the envy of all other bands as he played with the great Fodens band of the "golden era" when they couldn't be beaten)

Basses

Ron SHAWCROSS
Bob MORRIS
John ROBERTS
Colin LLOYD
Victor ELLIS


Percussion

Fred MOLYNEAUX

Thanks to Jim Genders (Soprano) - a retired Police Officer, former member of the band and currently with the Bollington Brass Band for this information.