The Tullis Russell Mills Band has announced the death of their highly respected and immensely popular percussion player Irene Carstairs on Thursday 26th July.

Guest of honour

Irene had been bravely fighting cancer since she was diagnosed in November 2010, and only this week attended a concert as the guest of honour to raise funds for the Macmillan Cancer Nurses who have been helping her during her illness.

The concert was given by a band of 50 performers made up from Tullis players and players from former bands that Irene had played with. Irene was also presented with her SBBA Life medal by long standing friend, Alan Fernie.

Music

The concert featured music which Irene loved to play and the massed band also played Irene’s own arrangement of the March ‘J.A.G.’

Irene began her brass banding career with Tullis Russell in 1976 and performed in her first Scottish Championship in Motherwell in 1977.

She subsequently moved to play with Cowdenbeath Public, Dalkeith, Tayport and Lochgelly Bands as well as conducting Dunfermline Town, before returning to Tullis in 2006.

As anyone who has played in a band with Irene will testify, she will be sadly missed by friends and family and everyone that knew herTullis spokesperson

Not frightened

Her last contest performance was at the Scottish Championships in Glenrothes this year.

A spokesperson told 4BR: "Known for her sometimes sharp humour, Irene was not frightened to let conductors know that they may be wrong (often when they were not!). As anyone who has played in a band with Irene will testify, she will be sadly missed by friends and family and everyone that knew her."

Details

Details of the funeral arrangements will be posted on the Tullis Russell Mills Band website www.trmb.co.uk as soon as they become available, or contact 078675 38699 for details after 29/7/12.