4BR has been informed of the death of the hugely respected former City of Coventry player, Malcolm Teasdale. He passed away on Tuesday 18th April.

Born in 1936 in County Durham, his father Jack was a cornet player in the Salvation Army, with the family moving to Coventry shortly after Malcolm's birth.

He later followed his father into the City of Coventry Band and was to become a founder member of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain in 1952 on flugel horn.

City of Coventry

He later changed instrument to euphonium, where together with Brian Clarke (cornet), Pat Hussey (horn) and Trevor Hargraves (trombone) became a formidable quartet of solo performers with the band throughout the 1950s and 1960s.

They were the cornerstones of a band which under the direction of Albert Chappell and professional conductor Alex Mortimer became a highly respected Championship Section competitor, claiming numerous contesting prizes and performing at both the National Championship Finals at the Royal Albert Hall and the British Open at Belle Vue.

The band claimed the Midlands Area Championship on six occasions during his time with them and was runner-up at the National Finals in 1971. They were BBC Band of the Year in 1972 and 1973.

He later changed instrument to euphonium, where together with Brian Clarke, Pat Hussey and Trevor Hargraves became a formidable quartet of solo performers with the band throughout the 1950s and 1960s4BR

Men o' Brass

He was also part of the band became the first British brass band to play behind the Iron Curtain during a tour of Czechoslovakia and was also a member of Harry Mortimer's "Men o' Brass".

In 1979, Malcolm joined GUS Footwear Band and played on euphonium for a further seven years in which time he added further accolades of Midlands Area and BBC Band of the Year to his personal CV.

He later joined Bilton Silver Band where he played for several years before retiring from playing. He passed away following a short illness not long after moving to live in Market Harborough.

Funeral

The funeral will be held on Friday 12th May at 2.030pm at 9, London Road, Great Glen Crematorium, Leicester. LE8 9DJ.

With thanks to Ray Stuttard