The Leeds Waits
| Leeds Waits, the official town musicians, were re-established by Alan Radford in 1983,
receiving official recognition by Leeds City Council a few years later. The original Leeds Waits
existed from at least as early as 1530-31 until they were disbanded in 1835. Copies of original
Leeds Waits badges now in the City Silver Collection are worn when performing, and they are shown
below flanking a picture of the Lord Mayor of Leeds with his Waits in 2008, in 18th century costume
on that occasion. The arms on the badges are those of the Borough of Leeds from 1626 to 1661.
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The Waits perform for the Lord Mayor and Corporation, also at stately homes and heritage events
around the region, and for organisations such as English Heritage and The National Trust. The Waits
have performed on radio and television, and also have thirty years experience of playing
for historical dance groups, initially Capriol Historical Dance Group of Oldham and more recently
White Rose Early Dance of Huddersfield. They play authentic music on authentic instruments, always
performing in appropriate historical dress, and are, as in the old days, available for hire for public
and private events.
