4BR has been informed of the death of Stanley Keen in Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex, who passed away on Wednesday 7th November.

Fine player

A fine xylophonist in the percussion section of a number of bands during the 1950s and 60s he was regularly featured as a soloist.

Over many years he played with the likes of Bethnal Green Silver Band and the Oldhams Press Band under the baton of Jim Thompson.

A fine xylophonist in the percussion section of a number of bands during the 1950s and 60s he was regularly featured as a soloist4BR

CWS (Manchester)

Radio broadcaster Chris Helme told 4BR: "He went on to play for a short time at the CWS (Manchester) Band (above) and following a move back south to take up a position with a local building society he became a member of the Dagenham Home Guard Band.

For a short time he also had some tuition from Jack Miles the well known percussion player with the great Munn & Felton’s (Footwear) Band."

Funeral

The closing piece at Stanley’s funeral will be a recording of a xylophone solo played by his old friend Colin Waggott, the legendary percussionist and xylophonist who he knew back in his CWS days.

Stanley leaves a wife Betty and two sons John and Stuart.

The funeral will take place on 10.15am Thursday 15th November at Hastings Crematorium, The Ridge, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 2AE.