Guard of honour tribute for Melton’s ‘Mr Music’
Melton Musician Bob Taylor (92), pictured here on the bass, died peacefully at home on October 17
COMRADES of a Melton man known as ‘Mr Music’ will form a guard of honour at his funeral service on Friday (Nov 2).
Musician Bob Taylor (92) spent 85 years playing in military and brass bands and also founded the local Tornado Brass band in 1984.
A former Grenadier Guard during the Second World War, Bob was involved with many fine brass bands after demob in 1946.
Members of some of the many bands he had connections with, wearing their uniforms, will play at his funeral at St Mary’s Church. They include Tornado Brass, Melton Band, Kibworth Band, Harborough Band, Wigston Band and Lutterworth Band. Standards from the Royal British Legion and Royal Air Force Association will also be present.
Grenadier Guard Association members, all former guardsmen, will form a guard of honour as Bob’s coffin is carried into the church to the sound of ‘The British Grenadiers’.
Bob first started playing with the Melton Mowbray Salvation Army when he was just seven-years-old. He picked up his first instrument, a tenor horn, when he went to live with his uncle and aunt, who were members of the Melton Salvation Army Brass Band.
Over the years he played tenor horn, euphonium and bass with many top bands including the Melton Silver Band, the Rutland Constabulary, the Leicestershire and Rutland Constabulary, Corby Silver and Kibworth Band to name just some. In his wartime days he also played with the Grenadier Guards.
During his time playing with the Kibworth Band they came sixth in a UK national championships.
Another big highlight for Bob was in 1984 when he founded the Tornado Brass band, which rehearses at the RAFA Club in Asfordby Road on Wednesday nights.
Bob’s lifetime commitment to music and entertainment was acknowledged in 1997 when he received a Melton Mayor’s Award of Merit. The award also acknowledged his part in setting up Tornado Brass in 1984 and for his active fundraising.
In 1997 he also received a Northamptonshire and District Brass Band Association award ‘in recognition of 70 years’ service to brass bands’.
During his career Bob also organised more than 200 Melton bandstand concerts on behalf of Melton Town Estate during his time as a concert controller.
He also served 17 years as a Melton special constable, ran a small shop in Norman Street, Melton, and was a licensed coin dealer.
Bob, the eldest of nine children, died peacefully at his home in Brownlow Crescent on October 17. He had suffered from cancer. He is survived by his sister, Jean, who lives in Ashby.
His funeral service will be followed by a private family cremation.
Tornado Brass will continue under the ownership of Bob’s nephew-in-law Stephen Warden.
He said: “Bob had such an impact on the music world nationally. Wherever he went people would seek him out but his heart and soul was in Melton. He was a Melton man through and through.”
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Melton
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 3 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 4 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: North west
