Thank you for taking the time to visit this JustGiving page in memory of our dear friend Carol West.

Carol was a leading light in Hampshire education who sadly passed away with inflammatory breast cancer on the 6th May 2025.

As a passionate and dedicated music teacher, Carol started her Taiko group at Oak Farm Secondary School in 1998. The group was called Oko Nojo Daiko which means Oak Farm Taiko and was the first youth orientated group of its type in the country. Oko Nojo Daiko soon expanded to reach out more widely to young people in Hampshire and was re-named Hampshire Taiko after the group relocated from Oak Farm School. The group became phenomenally successful and regularly performed both locally and at large venues such as Symphony Hall, Birmingham, The Albert Hall and The Royal Festival Hall in London.

Carol loved her job and when her career came to an abrupt end due to the diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer, she was devastated. Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare, aggressive, and fast-growing type of breast cancer and further research is needed.

In memory of her life we have organised a World Music event on Saturday 23rd May 2026 to celebrate Carol and her passion for music, in particular world music and Taiko Drumming. And to raise money for The Inflammatory Breast Cancer Network. The day will have World Music groups showcasing their music, music workshops will be held for adults and children to try different kinds of world music, and there will be food stalls inspired by global cuisine from around the world.

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