It is with deep regret and sadness that we have leaned of the passing of former Association Secretary, BYBA Fellow and great supporter of the activity over many years Mr David Lee.
David became a member council at the same as his great friend Keith Holdsworth at that time I was the association’s General Secretary, a sort of assistant to help the then Association Secretary Stan Wright - from the start they were both very active members of the council and a right pair of comedians.
When I became Chair, David was a great support especially during the time of my working party into the future of the British Youth Band Association, he was full of true Yorkshire grit, logic and humour, and would apply these attributes in his daily workings with our members, always there to listen to advise and to fight anyone's corner if he thought they had a just cause.
He was a great asset, not a lover of being in the limelight, but always working quietly in the background
I'm so sad to here of his passing.
Leroy Grubb
BYBA Fellowship
Former Chair
Dave worked alongside Stan Wright, Founder Secretary, ultimately becoming a fantastic Association Secretary in his own right, who always knew the details of our Constitution and guided Council through what was required at difficult times.
From a personal point I cannot forget the fact he no could longer smoke of cigarettes during Council meetings.
Bob Girvan
BYBA Fellowship
Former Chair
Dave (a proud Yorkshireman) was a close friend of the late Eddie Burridge, who when Chair, had the nickname ‘Arkwright’ for Dave, and we can only now imagine how much north/south banter there was between the two characters on Council.
As well as Association Secretary for a considerable number of years, Dave’s background was with Brighouse St John Ambulance as a brass player and a judge, he was also a very active committee member of the North of England Band Contest, which over the years was held in a number of venues in the Brighouse and Spen Valley area. I still exchanged Christmas cards with Dave, though I had not seen him for a number of years, though he remained a friend.
Paul Cartwright
BYBA Fellowship
Former Chair