Summer finish hope for city park bandstand project

It is hoped the bandstand will be installed in Queens Gardens in time for the 150th anniversary of Humberside Police Concert Band, formed in Hull in 1861 as Kingston upon Hull Police Band.

The new bandstand in a traditional Victorian or Edwardian style is being built by engineering apprentices at council-run Hull Training.

Lord Mayor of Hull Colin Inglis said: “There’s an enormous amount of musical activity which goes on in Hull and lots of people involved in all sorts of bands; Queens Gardens seemed the obvious place to put it.

“We thought the anniversary was the opportunity to cement that and enhance the musical life of the city.”

Coun Inglis added: “It is a classic bandstand of which there are none in Hull.

“I am hoping as long as we get planning permission in August we can get it up by the end of the summer.”

The cost – between £70,000 and £80,000 – is coming from a fund paid into by developers, and which is intended for city centre improvements.

The band, now composed of mainly volunteers, has only two police officers playing, one of whom is the drum major. There’s also a handful of special constables.

It is believed that it is the oldest police band in the country, having taken only a short break during th Second World War.

The band is holding a gala concert with guests the Enderby Wind Band at the Octagon Centre in Walker Street on Saturday, July 16.