DREAMS of having a Royal British Legion band in Skipton could soon be a reality.

Skipton branch chairman Alex Bentley said he was determined to get an active, functional military band up and running in the future.

The move follows November's Remembrance Day parade when ex-servicemen had to march to the sound of a CD being played over loudspeakers.

Mr Bentley aims to have at least a drum and bugle band marching at this year's parade.

The hunt is now on for players, of all ages, with or without experience, to pick up instruments for the new Royal British Legion Skipton Branch Band.

Mr Bentley said: "We will pull this off. We can only give it our best shot and try our best but I am confident."

"It will be a professional band and it's a long term thing for Skipton, not a short-term thing and not just for the Royal British Legion."

Over recent years the Legion has had to search around -sometimes at the last minute after being let down - to find a brass band to keep the war veterans and other marchers in step while on parade.

He told the Herald: "We have been talking about this for a good number of years and after the episode last year I decided it was never going to happen again, not while I was parade commander.

"We were not going to let the people down yet again so we decided to do something about it."

Mr Bentley has recruited the expertise of ex-Royal Marine musician Stephen Eyre from Skipton, who can play the bugle, and drummer Robert Cooper from Mirfield, West Yorkshire.

The pair have met with Mr Bentley and Royal British Legion members Wayne Smith and Barry Blood and have agreed to teach any players.

The band will start off as a drum and bugle band, but will eventually develop into a full brass band.

The branch is now on the look out for a band master or musical director to lead the musicians. It also requires financial help to buy instruments.

He said other branch members had been initially sceptical, but were showing more confidence with the group's quick progress.

Skipton's Ermysted's Grammar School and the town's Auction Mart have both agreed to allow their premises to be used as venues for practice sessions.

Mr Bentley said by setting up the band he would be fulfilling an ambition he has held for years.

"Another reason I want to do this is I want to have a proper ceremony of remembrance every year and the most important thing is a band," he said.

He added in the future there would only be one military band, The King's Division Waterloo Band, serving the north of the country.

Mr Bentley told the Herald he was not put off by the struggle Skipton Brass had had in recent years attracting players and was determined to get the band off the ground.

"I feel strongly about it and we are going to do our best for it. We will have our own band," he said.

Anyone interested in joining the band or who can offer financial assistance, expertise or instruments is asked to call Mr Bentley on 01943 880708 or 07740066250.