Thanks, Gerald, for a great job in representing the forum members so well, and for conveying to us what sound like a wonderful memorial service.

Heartfelt thanks, Gerald.

Gerald, I'm shedding a tear reading your account of the day. Thank you so much. It's strange but there's nothing virtual about this forum. It, and the people on it, are very real. In fact I think we can know each other better than those we see "in person" every day.

I'm really looking forward to the flute duet on Sunday

Helen

Thank you for representing us, and for that very moving account of proceedings, Gerald. It was clearly a very fitting tribute to a great guy. RIP clavicembalo.

Thank you Gerald. Thank you for being there on our behalf and for your very beautiful and consoling post.
Thank you for helping those of us who could not be present and for carrying our affection and support to David's family.

At the moment our church is closed for rennovation but when it opens I promise the first thing I will do will be to light a candle for David. It will be just one tiny symbol of the light he brought into our lives.

Thank you Gerald for representing us at the services and taking the time telling us all about the day. David's death is such a loss and he will be missed
RIP David..

Just like to add my thanks too, Gerald, as everyone above has said.

RIP David

Thank you so much for this extremely moving post. I'm so glad that you were able to go along and speak so well for us and I hope that it brought some comfort to David's family to know how well liked he was. Thanks again for sharing with us and well done - it's not easy to speak so eloquently under these circumstances.

Thankyou Gerald, A very moving post.

Thank you Gerald for representing us all in such a wonderful way x

Thank you Gerald. Your post, I'm sure, has given many of us a sense of closure that would have been missing by not being able to attend the service for David.

Thank you everyone, I hope it wasn't too long.

I can honestly say that the family did not know much about David's contributions to the Forum, because outside of school he was in fact a bit of a loner. But I can tell that they were totally delighted and very grateful to learn that he had so many friends and was well liked here, probably for that very reason. They were very pleased to have someone from here giving the full story. It wasn't difficult for me to put together the words about him, the hard part was deciding what to leave out so that it wasn't too long. Yesterday morning I did find it difficult to speak the words, but I did what we all do - I practised it . I sat in my car beforehand saying it out loud, telling myself that I can do this. David's loss did hit me rather hard, and I am still not sure why, but the mood of the school service was not one of sadness, and as I expected, the funeral service gave me a closure that helped change my mood.

I would agree that although this is a kind thought, in light of the events of yesterday, this would now not be the right thing to do. Let me tell you an anecdote that I heard yesterday which sums up the mood we can all now be taking.

David attended each year the School Swimming Gala, and took part in a fancy dress race between staff and pupils. He always wore the same clothing - a brown check shirt and a trilby hat. At the start of the race he would jump in the deep end, rise to the surface, doff his hat to the audience - and then walk all the way to the shallow end . (For those who did not meet him, you should know that he was 6 feet 7 inches tall!) This little story brought great laughter from everyone in the hall. I think we can now follow that example.

So the next forum event will have to be at a swimming pool?

I think he might have mentioned it once or twice.

Sooo sad.. He was a great contributor

More votes of thanks for Gerald.

It was a lovely tribute and I can't imagine anyone could have represented us all better. It is very cheering to hear that it was obviously a comfort to David's family and friends that you could share with them.


And I can't think of anything more fitting than DaisyChain's epitaph for David:

David's name was read out at our All Soul's service on Sunday evening... just a small token of my appreciation of David's contribution to forum life.

Thank you for representing us, Gerald. I really appreciate it.

And thank you Katica because I thought your message summed up nicely how everyone was feeling and I couldn't express it better myself. That was a nice thing to do, Celeste.

I forgot to say that some kind forumites sent or gave me donations and cards to pass to the family, and I did this when I met them after the crematorium service. They were most appreciative, and I included in the envelope a list of names and forum names just in case they decide to have another look at our forum.

All I can say, Gerald, , is what a beautiful post, and thank you.

I just read your post, Gerald - your tribute was absolutely beautiful.

Gerald, being on the forums rather less at the moment I have only just read your tribute.
It had the same effect, as when I first heard the sad news, I could not hold back a tear ! Thanks very much for representing us.

Thank you Gerald, comfort for David's family and comfort for us too ..

As some of you know, I've been away for the past few weeks and have had very limited internet access. Needless so say, this news has come as a bit of a shock.

I'm terribly saddened. I only met David that one time in Cardiff and was blown away by his musical knowledge and piano playing. David came across as a caring, generous soul with never a harsh word and always willing to help.

Gerald - thank you for your tribute and for expressing the thoughts of so many of us so eloquently. He will be missed.

Many thanks, Gerald, for speaking on behalf of all of us. It's hard to believe that Clavicembalo had been on the forums for less than a year; he made such an impact in that short time. I still find myself looking for his posts - and then remembering that there will be no more.

Having not been on the forums lately, this came as a shock. Just wanted to thank Clavicembalo for sharing his diploma journey - I found his attitude towards it really inspiring.

From David?s mum Brenda, and sisters Helen and Becky (mini clavi!);

We were truly amazed to find the outpouring of loss and sadness when we connected with this forum thread. I printed all 35 A4 pages of it!
David was a private self-contained person and did not readily give us information about his life. However, we were aware of a new happiness over the last year as he reconnected with music, obviously enhanced by his links with you all. Although we knew of his involvement in the concerts, we had little understanding of the breadth of the forum and to find so many people who felt the same about him all over the world is incredible. To know how much he was respected by you and the way he touched so many lives is a tremendous comfort to the family.
Our thanks to Gerald for attending the services on 2nd November and for sharing your forum feelings with those gathered, and our grateful thanks to those who have made monetary contributions to the memorial fund held by his school. We hope there will be sufficient for some fitting lasting tribute there in the maths and music departments.
So to his ?online family? from us all, Thank You.

Thank you for coming online to make this post, mini clavi. It's good to know that David got as much pleasure out of the forum as we got from his witty or informative posts. He has left a very large gap in the forum which will be difficult to fill. I'm glad Gerald was able to shed some light on the friendships which David found here, and that it is some comfort to the family to know how well thought of he was.

x

What a nice surprise - and what a lovely forum name to choose. Let me be the first second to welcome mini clavi and family and say that I am so pleased you have joined us and seen for yourself how well-liked David was amongst us.

Yes, indeed - what a lovely surprise. Thank you mini-clavi.

There is certainly a David-shaped gap in the forums, and his contributions are much missed.
It is a pleasure to have contact with his family, and thanks again for taking the trouble to post.

Very best wishes to all of you.

At the Birmingham Bash yesterday, 3 members played a composition which David had written for 2 flutes and harpsichord. Very impressive.

Thank you mini clavi, I can only concur with the sentiments written above : a lovely post to read.

, mini clavi .

Thank you for your lovely post.

May I second Cyrilla 's post. Welcome and thank you so much for your post.

Nice to hear from you Mini-Clavi.
We enjoyed playing the flute duet on Sunday, and everyone said how pretty it is.
Bev

This thread simply confirms how tragic it was that many of us knew David only through the forum and did not get to meet him in person. For me, to have known him through his posts and through eMail was a great pleasure. It was a genuine friendship. But the more I learn about David , the sadder I feel not to have known him in real life: we had such similar musical interests and views on music and so appreciated each other's wit and humour (although David was much wittier and humorous than I could ever be ) . To have met him for real would have been and meant so much more. We assume that our friends will always be there for us. David and I had made plans, a few weeks ago, to meet on 27th November. It never occurred to me that by then he might no longer be with us.

Such sad news.

I understand what you mean MadTom, as I also missed my opportunity to meet David in real life. I was due to attend the Forumites Adult Learners concert in Cardiff a few months back, but due to work commitments I had to miss it. As David had been there, I would have had the chance to meet him and tell him personally what a difference his contributions made to this forum. Like others, I'm so glad Gerald was able to represent us at the services, and let his family, friends and colleagues know what a hugely knowledgeable, popular and generous chap David was. He will be sorely missed.

RIP Clavicembalo.

And I second that .

David (sorry can't spell his forum name yet!) had sent me a sibelius version of the fluet duet so I know the one you're talking about. Very pretty indeed. He also wrote a piano/flute duet for my daughter and I to play. Alas neither of us put any effort in at the time as we're not the best players, but will now give it a whirl.
I don't intend to make many posts - only really meant to do the one but it's strangely compelling!! However, could anyone let me know the dates and places of your next performances please?

I loved hearing the piece that Clavi had composed played at the Brum Bash. A lovely piece of music.

I played a duet with Clavi at the Cardiff playday and have lovely memories of me trying to keep up with a piece he was sight reading!! We had great fun.

I hope you can stay in touch with the forum...as you know we miss Clavi and it would be so nice to have you here too . So please don't lose contact.

The flute duet we played is called Andante Grazioso and David (also known as Clavi, Clavicembalo, or even Ken which is short for Clever Ken Barlow ) did tell me that he had written an Allegro to go with it. If you ever come across it, I know I speak for Bev when I say that we would love to have a chance to play that too.

Regarding performances, I am not sure if you meant just David's pieces, or any of our event get-togethers. We don't at the moment have another performance of the Andante Grazioso planned, but I am certain it will get played again somewhere. Also I am not sure if he sent any pieces to other forum members, but maybe they can respond. For the general performances of other music, click here will take you to the Events section. At the very top you will see the events for 2010, most of which of course have now happened. But lower down the page you will see the calendar planned for 2011 (thanks to Barry-clari) plus items for the individual events as and when they occur.

And yes, mini clavi, it is compelling to keep writing here . People have very kindly thanked me for representing them at the school service, but I would just like to add my grateful thanks to your family and Mr Davidson for slotting me into the programme at the last minute, so that I was able to express how much we all thought of David here on this forum, and give some information that was probably not known to anyone else in the room.

Thank you mini clavi for joining in here.
I hope once you spend some time with the people on this forum you will feel comfortable with being here and I was delighted to hear, that you and your daughter will take up one of Davids compositions to work on it.

In fact I am very interested in his compositions, it's pretty unlikely, that I will once be able to join a forum-event, but I read so much about the one piece David wrote, that I became nosy about it.
Will you maybe try to find a publisher for his compositions? Or is it possible to get a copy of them, where I would love to do a donation for.

Thank you all for your warm welcome to the forum. I will endeavour at some point to attend one of your concerts/stately home events but it may have to wait a while. Meantime I will try to come to grips with David's old Clavinova once I figure out how to get it into my small car (aided by my sister) and back from his house to mine!

David wrote a few pieces, some specifically for the students at the school he worked in. He also wrote several Christmas Carols which he dedicated to different members of the family and colleagues. His piano teacher, Alan MacLean, has a set of his pieces and is trying to get a publisher for them so I'll keep you posted, although it may take some time! Gedall I'll see if there was an allegro - still plenty of paperwork to sift through.

Welcome mini clavi, and my condolences.

I did not correspond with David much, but was encouraging him to retake his diploma with music he felt comfortable playing. There is an ex forum member I can get you in contact with that has had great success getting his compositions published. I can get you both in contact so that any of David's compositions that are worth post-humous publication stand the best chance if you would like me to. PM me and I can supply you an email introduction.

I was very encouraging of this forum member too, and when I saw news of his composition success in the ISM journal earlier this year, I was very pleased as it proved my hunch was correct.


I am glad you also have the support of Mad Tom and Gedall. When times are hard, then you need all the people who can support you around you. I found this out the hard way too. Times are now easier in some respects, and I now count myself as lucky to have found good people on this forum who will stand by you and support you, honour David's memory and do their best.

That is all we can do. I am a jobbing instrumental teacher and soprano who will do what I can to help those around me whilst remembering I have to bring home some money to support my family. We all need help and assurance from time to time, and where there is no professional conflict, that costs nothing. Just to know there is a network of people who are out there caring and prepared to give a few minutes of their time is precious and invaluable.

Take care

Jo