Abide With Me for Nick Collin - Humberside Police Band

On 18 December 2020, the band lost one of its former players as we heard the news that, after a long illness, Nick Collin had died peacefully in his sleep. Nick, (Our prinipal trombone player's Dad) was a member of The Humberside Police (formally City of Hull Police) Band for many years but the links and the story, for me as Director of Music and many of the band, run much deeper than this. After leaving the army, Nick joined the Hull City Police in 1954 and served as a beat officer for many years, as well as being a member of the Force Band. When he retired from the Police Force, Nick became an instrumental teacher within the City of Hull Music service, which is where many of us from my age group met him. To say that Nick was a typical musician, brass player and bandsman, would be a massive understatement. He loved his musical life and loved his beer even more! However, above all else, there are a group of us that are even more grateful to Nick, as it was him who approached us at the music centre and invited us along to Police Band rehearsals, looked after us and made sure that we fitted in. Without Nick, I wouldn't have been a player in the band for so many years, let alone, where I am now - Director of Music
It was Nick's wish that the band play at his funeral but sadly the Covid -19 restrictions of early 2021 prevented us from being there in person. Therefore the band worked hard in the days after Christmas to produce this virtual recording of Abide With Me, making sure that our friend got his wish