4BR has been informed of the death of Joan Grassham, who passed away peacefully in her sleep earlier this week at the age of 91.

Key member

The mother of conductor Bramwell Tovey and daughters Elizabeth Forsyth and Jane Wallis, Joan was the daughter of SA officers Herbert and Hilda Barker. Herbert was a key member of the ISB between the wars, in the tenor horn section and as the band’s tenor vocalist.

In 1941 Joan married Bernard Tovey, solo euphonium of Wood Green SA band before the war, who later joined the ISB. After Bernard died in 1968 she married fomer Southend Citadel Bandmaster Cyril Manning in 1971 and had 21 years of very happy married life.

Brass band opportunities

Cyril was MD of the Southend FC Supporters Club Band, an excellent 3rd Section band where Bram Tovey enjoyed his first brass band conducting opportunities. Cyril was bass trombonist of the South London Fellowship Band under George Whittingham.

In 1993, after Cyril’s death she married Albert Grassham a member of the tenor horn section of the South London Fellowship Band who survives her.

Joan was the dedicatee of the 2005 British Open test piece ‘The Night To Sing’ and will be sorely missed by the many banding devotees who were her dearest friendsBramwell Tovey

Crystal Palace

As a child, Joan was taken annually to the band contest at Crystal Palace by her father and uncle, Fred Sherwood (also a member of the ISB).

Family holidays were taken in the Black Dyke bandroom in Queensbury, thereby cementing an almost life-long love of Black Dyke. In 2000 she and Albert brought their enthusiasm and passion across to Sandbach and became devoted to Fodens Band following Bram’s connections with the band.

She leaves three children: Elisabeth Forsyth, Jane Wallis and Bramwell Tovey and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Funeral details

Her funeral is at Ilford Salvation Army Citadel in Clements Road, Ilford on Monday 27th June at 11am. All are welcome there and at the graveside in Barkingside Cemetery at 12:30pm and afterwards at the Prince Regent Hotel, Woodford Bridge at 1:30pm.

Major Mark Bearcroft will officiate at the funeral. Major Bearcroft’s grandparents were in training with Joan’s parents as Salvation Army officers before the First World War.

Songs and music

The Principal Cornet of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, James Fountain will play at the funeral, and Tracey Bearcroft, soprano, will sing Ray Steadmann Allen’s arrangement of Grieg’s The River, one of Joan’s favourite songs that she often sang in herself.

Sorely missed

Bram Tovey told 4BR: "Joan was the dedicatee of the 2005 British Open test piece ‘The Night To Sing’ and will be sorely missed by the many banding devotees who were her dearest friends.

She always preferred brass bands above all other forms of music making.

Playful silence

He added: "When I phoned, somewhat elated, to tell her I had been invited to make my subscription debut with the New York Philharmonic there was a long silence.

She eventually said 'That’s nice dear….got any more engagements with Fodens?'

She was a great character and much loved by all who came into contact with her. We will really miss her."