Shipston Town Band has announced the death of their longest serving member Ken Roe, who passed away earlier this week, aged 84.

Service

Ken retired from the band in 2010 shortly after playing with them at the Fourth Section National Finals and completing more than 60 years of continuous service — the large proportion on principal cornet.

Ken joined Shipston Band when it was reformed after the Second World War and during his time saw many successes and loved nothing more than to sit down with a cup of tea and talk about bands both locally and nationally.

Encourage

A spokesperson told 4BR: "Ken would always encourage the young cornet players who came through the band and stood aside more than once to allow a young player to develop.

He was particularly proud of the help and encouragement he gave to Kirsty Abbotts now Principal Cornet of Carlton Main Frickley Colliery as she rose through our ranks."

Funeral details

The funeral will take place on Tuesday October 29th in the South Chapel at Oakley Wood Crematorium near Leamington Spa at 10.30am.

A combined ensemble drawn from Shipston’s two local bands will provide the music.