The Remembering

Black and white photo of an industrial complex with labeled buildings including "Sorting Shop," "Spinning Mill," "Mules Spinning," "Packing Shed," "Wash House," "Boiler House," and "Fire Station."
Black and white image of a vintage street scene with cafés and shops, featuring a parked car and old-style buildings.

Andy was a close friend, a fellow traveller, composer, collaborator and fierce games player.

He started and led a choir in his home town of Lancaster, where he also taught and played music for pupils, and the theatre. He started many bands there, not to mention a steel pan ensemble at a primary school in Cumbria.

He wrote music for people and about people.

He got them to share it.

When he died we wanted to mark his life and the way his music had marked Lancaster. So we designed a wandering through the town that took in various sites, each animated by a choir or soloist or ensemble that Andy had worked with.

The music demanded we took time in each place. The places held us while we listened and felt. Then the walking gave us freedom to breath and talk, to re-charge and recollect.

Dear friends and colleagues of Andy,

Thank you to everyone who has come forward to help with the event to celebrate Andy’s life and work. It will take place on Saturday 14th October with the first part in the form of a walk and the second, taking in the park.

We will start at the Friends Meeting House (LA1 1TX) at 4pm, then move to the garden at the Storey Institute (4.20), then to the entrance to the Castle (4.30), St John’s Church (4.50) and the Duke’s Gallery (5.20).

After a break the second bit will take place at the Ashton Memorial in Williamson Park*, starting at 7pm and lasting about an hour.

The content will be music and words that Andy wrote for folk clubs, choir, steel pans, musicals, pantomime, instruments, voice including poetry and prose. All performed by many of the people he collaborated with over many years as an artist, teacher and friend.

The intention is that it will be relaxed and informal with plenty of time to chat and reflect.

Let me know if you have any questions,

Best wishes,

Peth