The Blidworth Welfare Band has announced the death of much loved cornet player, Vicki Sheppard after a brave and courageous fight against the effects of a brain tumour.

Well known

Band spokesperson Samantha Turner told 4BR: "Vicki was well known amongst the local banding fraternity and spent many years playing for local bands such as Kirkby Colliery, Pleasley and Riddings as well as many guest appearances with other band in the Midlands and Yorkshire."

Ambition

Vicki started playing with Creswell at the age of 13 before moving to Harworth, where she met her husband Simon. In 2009, she fulfilled a personal ambition by joining the Championship Section Thoresby Colliery.

She later joined Blidworth Welfare with her husband and quickly established herself as a key player. The band has extended their deepest sympathy to the family at this sad time

Supporter

Samantha added: "Vicki was an earnest supporter of lower section or ‘proper banding’ as she called it, and in particular banding which supported strong youth and training policies.

As a result she often joined her daughter Tara at the Shirland Training Band."

Vicki was an earnest supporter of lower section or ‘proper banding’ as she called it, and in particular banding which supported strong youth and training policiesSamantha Turner

Family banding

Vicki was an IT Service Manager for the East Midlands Ambulance Service and spent the greater part of her life in Kirkby in Ashfield with husband Simon and children Tara and Alex.

Funeral

The funeral will be held on Friday 26th July at 2.00pm at Mansfield Crematorium. The family have kindly requested that black shall not be worn.