4BR has been informed of the death of Barry Mathews, who had a lifelong passion for brass bands in the north Lincolnshire area and beyond, and was an 'ambassador' for the East Yorkshire Motor Services Band. He was 83 and passed away on November 11th following a short illness.

Rare gift

A Band spokesperson told 4BR: "A talented tenor horn player, musical educator and later conductor, Barry was always upbeat, and had the rare gift of being willing to help, with a smile, anyone who approached him."

Born in Cleethorpes on Christmas Day he was given his full name of Noel Barry Mathews by his parents. Taught to play as a member of the Salvation Army, where he met his future wife Margaret, he later helped to set up the Harold Street Boys Band, which evolved into the Grimsby Band and was its solo horn player for many years.

Friends

As a young Salvationist, he worked his way through the junior and senior corps and later enlisted as a bandsman in the Royal Corps of Transport Staff Band and was often part of the Forces radio broadcasts. It was during that time that he met the respected conductor Dennis Wilby, and the pair remained lifelong friends.

He devoted himself to the Grimsby Band and helped many youngsters, whilst he also played with Lincoln Hospitals, Market Rasen and Cleethorpes Bands. He was proud to help the EYMS Band on several occasions.

A talented tenor horn player, musical educator and later conductor, Barry was always upbeat, and had the rare gift of being willing to help, with a smile, anyone who approached himSpokepserson

Contest regular

Barry later became MD at Cleethorpes and Market Rasen and his enthusiasm for the movement took him all over the country to attend concerts. He was a regular at the Granada Band of the Year competitions, and later Brass in Concert where he was a familiar sight in the front row with his box full of sandwiches, set for the day.

His sons John and Andrew followed in their father's footsteps and became electricians and bandsmen.

After undergoing a heart valve replacement operation, Barry gave up playing and conducting and pushed his enthusiasm into photography, with his images chronicling the progress of the EYMS Band.

Always with a smile, a twinkle in his eye and bags of charm, he would often greet one and all with a familiar 'hello lover'.

Sadly missed

EYMS Band chairman Tony Newiss told 4BR: "Barry was a true 'Force of Nature' who will be sadly missed by all who knew him."

The funeral will be at Grimsby Crematorium on Wednesday, November 23rd.