4BR has been informed of the death of Ged Whittingham, the flugel horn player and band librarian of Boscombe Salvation Army Band, after a lengthy and brave fight against cancer.

Ged passed away peacefully on Friday the 19th of February at home surrounded by his loving family.

Queensbury

Ged was a proud Yorkshireman, born in Barnsley and a life long supporter of the Black Dyke Band, even to the point of naming his home 'Queensbury' with a doorbell that played the opening of the famous march.

Ged was a proud Yorkshireman, born in Barnsley and a life long supporter of the Black Dyke Band, even to the point of naming his home 'Queensbury'4BR

Remembered

However, it will be for his Salvation Army banding that Ged will be most fondly remembered.

Having previously served at Banbury corps as YP Band leader, principal cornet and Bandmaster, he moved to the Boscombe Corps in 1983. Within his 27 years of service at Boscombe, he played on both the front row cornet bench, and then moved onto flugel horn.

During the last two and half years whilst fighting the brain tumour, he was an inspiration to family, friends, Salvationists and countless others. His Christian faith never wavered and in fact strengthened despite his circumstances, and he kept on playing and working the band library until the very end.

Ged will be dearly remembered by his loving wife Joy, two sons Kevin & Adrian & daughter in law Karen.

Service

The service of Celebration will be held at Boscombe Salvation Army hall on Thursday the 4th of March at 1.15pm and all are welcome to join the family at this service.

Family flowers only, but any donations in Ged’s memory can be sent for Marie Curie c/o Miller Bros. & F.P. Butler Ltd, 119 Bargates, Christchurch, BH23 1QH.