Thanks for taking the time to visit this JustGiving page.

This has been set up, on behalf of Dave's wife Tracey, to honour his memory for any that wish to do so.

My own memories of Dave date back to 1983 when I first joined 1st Westcliff Scout Band, which he ran with Jill, Vic Hall and Ron Taylor.  Dave taught me to play the E flat cavalry trumpet then, a few months later, indulged my desire to learn to play the snare drum.  I remember being upset when he left the scout band to form the Southend Blue Jackets, along with Jill and Ron, before eventually going to join them myself in the summer of 1985.

Probably the greatest achievement during my all too brief time in the Blue Jackets was finishing second in the novice class of the British Youth Band Championships at Wembley Arena in 1986, something of which I know Dave was enormously proud.  He also, graciously as ever, insisted that I carry the Blue Jackets banner, as we paraded for the awards ceremony at the same competition the following year, as it was my last performance.  I am sure many of you reading this page will have equally fond memories of Dave from the same or later periods with the Blue Jackets.  Memories of learning to play instruments, of other great triumphs and of making friends in such a great atmosphere.

I'm sure I speak on behalf of all of us who were members that he touched our lives in so many ways, as I'm sure he did with so many others before and after the Blue Jackets.  Apart from everything else, Dave also taught me to drive when he was an instructor, like he did many people.  Others reading this page will remember him in so many ways - line dancing, solo salsa, the Samba band, the Church, the Scouts.  I daresay the list is endless.  Dave was many things to many people and his passing will leave a hole in the lives of all who knew him. 

He was an inspiration, a mentor and a friend.  To my lasting regret, I had not seen Dave for nearly 30 years.

May you rest in eternal peace, Corps Director.