A FATHER-of-five who has been teaching people to play brass instruments since he was 16 has been honoured for his dedication.

Brian Henderson, aged 61, has been given a long service award for more than 50 years with the Yorkshire and Humberside Brass Band Association.

He began playing when he was only 11 before going to on teach the junior band at his secondary school at 16, when there was no tutor available.

It was here that he found his passion for teaching and in the late 1970s he became one of the tutors for the association’s youth band.

Since then he has taught thousands of people to play, including Craig Brown, who conducted at last year’s York Mystery Plays.

He proved his dedication to the band when he was moved to Bristol for work and would travel 260 miles every week to York for practice with the Ebor band he helped create.