NEMBBA is saddened to learn of the death of our vice-chair and vice-president Brian Draper. Brian had served on the NEMBBA committee for many years, and stewarded at all our contests. Brian also served for a number of years on the Midlands Regional Committee.
Brian was mainly associated with the Bestwood Black Diamonds Band, where he played principal euphonium for them in the championship section for many years before later taking over as conductor. In subsequent years, he conducted many of our North East Midlands bands.
As a music teacher, Brian taught many pupils to play brass instruments (both in the Midlands and in Thailand), and was also a prolific arranger of music for brass bands.
In recent years, Brian had taken up bass trombone which he played with Kirkby Colliery Welfare (whom he also later conducted) and the NEMBBA Daytime Band, of which he was an enthusiastic supporter.
We send our condolences to his daughter Claire.