SURELY the moral of the Brassed Off story is that music bridged barriers, healing dysfunctional relationships and broken communities?

Local musicians have continued to do this over subsequent years with very good relationships between them and Durham Constabulary Band.

March is hectic for any competing band as it is the time of the area qualifiers for “the Nationals”. Most bands will be too busy to accommodate extra rehearsals and a gruelling performance schedule plus bear the transport cost etc.

A replacement for the Durham Constabulary Band at the Darlington Civic Theatre has now been found (Echo, Jan 21 and Jan 22).

Durham Police Band no longer competes. It gives concerts for charities in schools, churches and community centres for all to benefit. It recently played in a local miners’ welfare hall (to a standing ovation). Players regularly help others bands out, frequently adding to each others ranks for competitions, concerts and, yes, even the Miners Gala where the brass band heritage has been bolstered by police band members for years.

You see, old decisions made by dead politicians 30 years ago just aren’t relevant in the 21st Century. What does matter is that the resilient communities of County Durham can come to terms with old disputes and move on.

Penelope Llewellyn, Durham.