Mexborough and Swinton Times February 5, 1937

The Mexborough Concertina Prize Band suffered a severe blow by the death last Wednesday of bandsman J Tyas, who for over 30 years was a conductor of the Concertina Band.

Mr Tyas joined the Barnsley 1904 as a professional conductor after having been bandmaster of the Thurlstone Band. He also had been in charge of the Swinton Town band and the Kilnhurst Band.

In the first few years of his conductorship many notable successes were again by the band, chief of which was first prize in the Championship Crystal Palace in 1906.

Mr Tyas had made himself so popular and so necessary to the Band that it came as a great blow when he retired from the active conductorship at the end of last year. The esteem in which he was held was shown by the presence of a large number of bandsman in full uniform at his funeral at Swinton on Saturday.

Mr Tyas was also a keen brass bandsman, and for a number of years was trombonist in the Mexborough Hippodrome orchestra.

Mr and Mrs Tyas celebrated their golden wedding just over a year ago.

The funeral took place on Saturday at Swinton, the reverent W J Parker officiating. Mrs Tyas was unable to attend the funeral owing to illness.