MUSIC, memories and a lot of brass were the hallmarks of a poignant evening to celebrate the life and legacy of the late Dave Stanley.
Arrow Valley Brass was joined by Alcester Victoria Silver Band and Bretforton Silver Band to perform a memorial concert on October 12 in honour of the well-respected bandsman from Studley who died last April.
More than 300 people attended the musical event at Alcester’s Greig Hall including Dave’s two children, Alan and Jane.
The late Dave Stanley.
The concert raised approximately £400 which will be donated to the Music For Schools Foundation as, during his life, Dave was passionate about making music accessible to children in schools.
He dedicated most of his life to music, having conducted each of the bands during his long career. He was devoted to brass bands and training young musicians.
He started a youth band in the late 1970s, which became Arrow Valley Brass in 1990. Although he formally retired as its musical director in 2019, he continued to play an active role until ill health intervened in late 2022.
Dave conducted Alcester Victoria Silver Band for eight years, Bretforton Silver Band for 18 and was also the conductor of his first band, Blockley Brass Band, where he played trombone and euphonium as a boy.
He also enjoyed a distinguished career as a teacher, headteacher and later chief education officer for Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
In the early 1990s, he became chairman of the British Federation of Brass Bands and was awarded a diploma of honour by the Worshipful Company of Musicians in 2003.
The idea for the memorial concert came from Arrow Valley Brass chair Helen Parker.
She said: “It is hard to put into words the impact that Dave had as he touched so many lives in a very positive way.
“Unlike many philanthropists, Dave ever sought or wanted acknowledgements or accolades for the numerous things he did for others, and in some cases, to this day his anonymity as a benefactor remains. He had a great knack of knowing how to inspire players of all abilities to get the very best out of them.
“Where music was concerned he had just one approach to people – if you loved brass bands you were a friend and he spoke to you as an equal, whether you were eight or 80.”
