The death Gwynne Price L.G.S.M has been announced after a prolonged illness on Friday 21st November, aged 72.
Career
Gwynne began his playing career with Drybrook and District Band in 1950, conducted by the late J.A. Greenwood. He joined the Staff Band (Alamein) Royal Tank Regiment on cornet and trumpet in 1954 and progressed to Kneller Hall where he studied with the great Jack Mackintosh.
Professional player
After leaving the forces in 1963 he became a professional trumpet and cornet player spending the majority of his playing career performing with London Orchestras, the Joe Loss Band and in the pit at numerous West End shows.
He continued his brass band connections by playing with, and sometimes conducting, the Watneys Silver Band and regularly featured with them playing Edrich Siebert's 'The Lazy Trumpeter'.
...he became a professional trumpet and cornet player spending the majority of his playing career performing with London Orchestras, the Joe Loss Band and in the pit at numerous West End shows4BR
Founder
In 1964 Gwynne co-founded the PM School of Music in Twickenham with his long-time friend and business partner, Albert Meek and went on to tutor brass instrument pupils at Tiffin Boys School (Kingston-upon-Thames), Wandsworth Boys School and Thames Valley Grammar School. His pupils went on to win at the National Youth Finals on no less than four occasions.
Retire
Illness forced Gwynne to retire to the West Country in 1974 but he continued to stay involved with the brass band movement, taking Glastonbury Town from the fourth section to the Championship section in the 1980's.
Glory days
In the early 1990's Gwynne became conductor of the St. Dennis Band in Cornwall which saw them quickly return to their former glory of the Eddie Williams era; they successfuly regained the Royal Trophy at the West of England Bugle Brass Band Festival in 1994 playing Eric Ball's 'Journey into Freedom', and were also promoted back to the Championship.
Return to roots
In the late 1990's and through the turn of the century Gwynne returned to his brass band routes in the Forest of Dean and became resident conductor with the Cinderford (Swanbrook) Band.
He continued to give conducting support to other bands until recently passing away, such as the Bugle Band in Cornwall.
Passion
Gwynne's passion for all music (but brass band music in particular) was passed onto all of his children with Tanya, Dale and Ashley playing in bands such as Camborne, Yeovil and Weston-Super-Mare over the years and several of the grand children are now following in this tradition.
Funeral details
The funeral is being held at St Mary's Church, Wedmore, Somerset on the 02 December at 12:00 and afterwards at Wedmore Village Hall.
Anyone wishing to send Flowers should send them to George Williams Funeral Directors, Penn Farm, 54 Redcliffe Street, Cheddar, Somerset BS27 3PF.
