Tributes have been paid to veteran Gloucestershire bandsman Pat Etherton, who has died, surrounded by his loving family at his home in The Camp, near Stroud, after a long fight against cancer. He was 82.

Popular

Pat, who was a popular character in the band movement in Gloucestershire and beyond, played bass trombone for Chalford Band for 44 years and Wotton-under-Edge Band for the past 11 years.

He is survived by his wife, Irene, five children, Bridie, Sophie, Patrick, Richard and Jacob, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Humour

He will be best remembered for his sense of humour and his ability to tell jokes and anecdotes virtually non-stop. He took part in six National Finals and in 2007 received a 50-year Service Award from the Gloucestershire Brass Band Association.

Famous

Pat was famous for playing his bass trombone left handed, although he was right handed at everything else.

Chalford's former MD, Ken Wear, told 4BR: "Pat was introduced to the instrument by George Wear, who originally and mistakenly, assembled the instrument in a left hand position.

From that moment on Pat was known throughout the country as the left-handed bass trombone player from Chalford."

He added: "When the new bass trombones with triggers appeared he even changed them over so that he could play them left-handed."

Pat was famous for playing his bass trombone left handed, although he was right handed at everything else4BR

Kind hearted

A Wotton Band spokesman added: "Pat was a very happy, cheerful and kind hearted man. He could always be relied upon to cheer band members up with his endless supply of jokes and anecdotes and he really was the life and soul of the party.

His dedication and contribution to Wotton is a testament that demonstrated that brass banding isn’t just about young people. He was a very active man who lived every one of his 82 years to the full."