This lovely photograph of Arthur was taken in France last year and sent to me by Harold Troughton
Arthur Pedder
11th August 1937 - 14th Feb 2012
This lovely photograph of Arthur was taken in
France last year and sent to me by Harold Troughton
|
15/02/12 - I am sorry to have to announce that our trombonist, Arthur Pedder, passed away on 14th February, after a short illness. As you can imagine, the news has come as a shock to the band; our thoughts are with his wife Gill and his family and we shall pass on more details in due course Dennis Harrison-Blue Magnolia Jass Orchestra 16/02/12 -
So sorry about
Arthur. A fine player, A really nice man and an enthusiast on stage
who never failed to connect to the audience. Gill must be
devastated. Best wishes to her, to the rest of his family and the
lads in the Blue Mags 16/02/12 - Sorry to hear about Arthur - that's sad news. I met him up on the Isle of Bute a couple of times and at the defunct Barnsley Jazz Festival in the '90s. Pete Lay 16/02/12 -
Shocked to hear about Arthur: A great character and musician: He was
a member of the Original Panama Jazzband for many years and his
enthusiasm and personality always contributed so much. Another great
loss to North West music. Our thoughts are with Gill and family. 16/02/12 - Very sad to hear about Arthur Pedder. I played with him for a number of years with New Orleans Express. Lovely man. Love to Gill and the family.
Graham Martindale 17/02/12 -
So sad
to learn with deep shock that Arthur Pedder has so suddenly passed
away. Our thoughts and condolences are foremost with Gill and the
family, the members of Blue Magnolia Jass Orchestra and his
undoubted 'legion' of friends and jazz fans. Arthur's excellent
trombone playing with his exuberant contribution, dedication and
knowledge was certainly a bonus for all the bands he was involved
with over the years. Thank you, Arthur. While principally impressing
the north-west jazz circuit he also 'wowed' the audiences on tours
with bands to France, Holland and also Germany. 17/02/12 - So sorry to hear about Arthur Pedder passing away. Great trombonist and great personality. Our condolences to his family, and of course, The Blue Mags Band. Rob and Dee Lamble. 18/02/12 - I was very shocked to read that Arthur Pedder was no longer with us. I'd known him, & enjoyed his playing & friendship, for about twenty-five years. A great musician & gentleman. RIP. Jenks. 19/02/12 -
Like everybody I
was very shocked and saddened to hear of Arthur's death. When I told
the members of our band, Good Time Jazz, here in Brittany they too
were deeply upset. The Blue Mags had played alongside us three times
recently at our festival, Fest Jazz, here in France as well as at
concerts in Liverpool and Abersoch. Arthur made a tremendous
impression on the French musicians both as a fine trombonist and as
someone who really made an effort to get to know them, using the
music as a way of making friends and breaking down boundaries. They
insisted we play a number (Savoy Blues) for him at our regular
monthly club this afternoon. It is a tribute to Arthur that even in
this little of corner of France he is so fondly remembered as a
great musician and man. 19/02/12 - I first met Arthur Pedder in the early eighties when he was with the New Orleans Express, since when I’ve always enjoyed his playing. In the early nineties we met up on a tour in Germany with Alan Davies’s Delta Jazz. I was living in Holland by then, and the night before the tour began I had an accident on my bike, so that I arrived in Biebertal with my face grazed and covered in bruises – much to the amusement of the rest of the band who insisted that I sing Black and Blue in every gig we played! Gill, was there with Arthur, and I shall always remember the kindness and concern they both showed in helping me and supervising the cleaning and dressing of my various wounds as they began to heal. We have played together since in Kelsall of course, but it’s Arthur’s friendly generosity as much as his fine trombone-playing that I shall remember. My condolences to Gill and the family, and to the Mags. Allan Wilcox 19/02/12 - I have good memories of Arthur Pedder and actually played one gig with him at Breda. A bunch of us were sitting in the Blue Note Cafe as the festival was winding down and we spotted Malc Murphy (then with Colyer) talking to some guy in the square outside. Malc used to play in my band in Leicester and so I went in invite him in for a beer. The end result was that there and then we put a band together to play the Sunday evening in the next square. We had Arthur on trombone, me on Cornet, John Smith (The Sunset Music Company) on clarinet and sax, Black Eagles Bob Pilsbury on piano and Peter Bullis on banjo, Malc Murphy on drums and an Australian on string bass. We had a great session playing to a crowded square full of mostly younger people and were kept well supplied by the many bars around the square. What a lovely evening and that's how I'll remember Arthur - so sorry that he is gone, he was a good person Tony Pringle USA 20/02/12 - Very sad to hear of Arthur's untimely death. My wife Jean & I send our condolences to Jill and family on their sad loss. I had the luxury pf playing with Arthur in some of the best years of the New Orleans Express playing in the UK and Europe, it is truely a sad loss to all involed in Jazz. May I take this opportunity to add Gerry Owen in this tribute to Arthur as he does not have internet access. Brian Woods 20/02/12 - I first met Arthur in the early 60's, when he came for an audition with the Five and a Penny Band. He had just arrived from, I believe it was called Westmorland, in those days. I can still see him walking down the aisle in some theatre type setting where the Five and a Penny were rehearsing for a television audition at the Barracks down in London, big time stuff for us! He sat in without instruction and it all worked fairly well. He was in. The founder trombone player, who was one of the older members of the band, was happy to be able to please his wife and retire. The possibility of a TV appearance would be embarrassing to her. Having joined the band at the end of the first year of its existence Arthur stayed with us through a period of masses of bookings. He would have certainly left his personal contribution to the Five and a Penny Band style as it exists today. He gave way to Peter Fryer, when he was motivated to small group playing. We are all enriched by our friends and community contacts, thanks to you, Arthur Pedder. Roy Potts 20/02/12 -
I was away last
week and only heard about Arthur's passing yesterday. I had
known Arthur since the early 80s when I used to occasionally dep for
The New Orleans Express, and was delighted when he agreed to be a
founder member of the original Wabash Jazzmen of the early 90s. He
made several recordings with the band before he joined The Blue
Magnolia and he was a dynamic tailgate trombonist for us. 20/02/12 -
So sorry to hear
about Arthur. Such a shock. I only played with Arthur when I depped
with the New Orleans Express way back back in the 70's. The last
time I saw him was in fact at one of the Mersey's Festivals at the
Crowne Plaza.
21/02/12 - I knew Arthur and first met him not through Jazz but through crown green bowls. We played in the same team for Kelsall Bowling Club in Cheshire.We also played indoors through the winter. It was with sadness and disbelief that we heard of his passing. Sadly I only heard Arthur play twice. Once at Chester Rugby Club and again at a local Jazz Festival that he and Gill organised. His sense of humour shone through his undoubted virtuosity. Reading the other tributes to him I can only agree with what has been written. Arthur was a lovely man and I found him to be dedicated, enthusiastic and hardworking in everything he did.
Kelsall Bowling
Club members would like to add their sympathy and condolences to
Gill and the family. 21/02/12 I simply wish to pay my deep respects to Arthur Pedder. We played together in various Bands in 'the early years' - or should I say '- the golden years'! I recall his fine trombone and his easy going personality, which was a great asset to every gig we played. A very sad loss, and Arthur was certainly a musician who will be long remembered by all who played alongside him or listened to his music. Derek Harrison 21/02/12 -
Happy memories of
my association with Arthur during the 60's, when he was living in
Morecambe and working at ICI, Middleton. He played for some time
with my band, the Riverside Jazz Band, until ICI cruelly transferred
him to Chester, thus depriving us of a fine trombonist and a good
friend. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
27/02/12 - Sorry
to hear about Arthur. A fine player and a really nice chap. My
condolences to Gill and family. 28/02/12 - Some - oh twenty? years ago Arthur depped for a while with The Merseys. At that time, they played a gig for me at Wrightington Hospital Garden Fete, as a "thank you" for me new hip! I was on a canal holiday with Beryl at the time, so - dear old Arthur met the boat at a pre-arranged spot near Nantwich, took me up to Wrightington (near Wigan!) to join the Merseys as they played for a marathon walk of "hippies" - or joint replacees! And returned me to my beloved some hours later. A task well beyond the call of duty! I've never forgotten that very kind action and it makes me swallow hard.
Tony Davis. Hi Fred, My name is Ian, Arthurs eldest son I would like to say thank you to all the great tributes for my dad. Losing him was a big shock to us all. His energy and love for jazz music will be something I will always remember. I have lots of memories from the '70's and '80's, and remember gigs at the old Albion Hotel on city rd in Chester and Sammy Rimington being amongst the guests. I appreciate the page you have set up in memory of my dad. I always remember him doing Sweet Georgia Brown, one of my favourites. We are hoping to arrange a night in his memory and raise some money for charity, Dennis Harrison and Gill will have more details in the future, be good to meet yourself and other friends and musicians my dad was involved with Thanks to you all. Ian Pedder |
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