Stuart Pattinson's Memorial Service

Sadly, our bass player Stuart Pattinson passed away suddenly in November 2024.  He had been a member of our band for nearly ten years first joining in 2016 with a break of a few years when he moved to Skipton. This picture of him playing at Ashton Park in 2016 must have been one of the first concerts he played with us.  He was a popular member of the band and hardly ever let his health problems stop him from playing.

On Sunday 16^th March 2025 we joined forces with Rock Ferry Salvation Army band to provide the music for his memorial service held at their church in Rock Ferry and arranged by his wife Jacqueline. We were made very welcome, the music was very fitting and we did our best to match the high standard of their playing.

A common feature of funerals seems to be that you learn things about people that you were totally unaware of and this was no exception. We learned much about Stuart that we did not know, that he came from the North East was evident from his lilting accent but we had known nothing of his deep faith, his lifelong commitment to the Salvation Army or that he had spent some time in Harpenden and been an active member of the Salvation army band there. Also, it was clear from some of the anecdotes told that we had only glimpsed his impish sense of humour and what it was capable of.  

Stuart will always be remembered by us.  Perhaps the strongest will be of him at Christmas carolling in the cold wearing his Russian hat with it’s ear muff’s, shunning the Santa hats which the rest of us wear. The picture, showing him in his hat, was taken outside Marks and Spencer’s super store in Cheshire Oaks at the Christmas before last.

Follow this link to go to  The Salvation Army Rock Ferry's Facebook page