The death has been announced of the highly respected Midlands based bandsman, Dave Paterson.

He was 91, and passed away peacefully in Skegness Hospital on Monday, 16th May after a period of ill health.

Well known

Dave was well known in the Midlands and East Coast banding movement having played and guested with many bands in both areas.

He joined the then Ransome & Marles Works Band on BBb bass from the Clipstone Colliery Welfare Band in 1966. He enjoyed many contest successes with them, including victories at the Midlands Regional Championships and Nottinghamshire Miners Welfare and CISWO contests, to the Wills Contest and Excelsior Festival of Music.

He also played with the band at the National Championships of Great Britain at the Royal Albert Hall (where they came runner-up in 1970) and the British Open (coming fifth in 1969)

Enjoyed banding

He remained at Ransome until the late 1970's before he moved to live in Chapel St Leonards on the East Coast, where he continued to enjoy his banding with Skegness Silver and several local bands.

He returned to Ransome when they became NSK-RHP Ransome Band, enjoying another fine contesting spell and a memorable visit to Japan. He later returned to Skegness Silver whilst assisting other local bands. Even much later in life he continued his lifelong love of banding, playing until two months before his death.

With thanks to Brian Eggleshaw