Music service stalwart David Woodyer dies, 57

The head of Wolverhampton Music Service, described as an outstanding musician and a wonderful teacher, has died. David Woodyer was 57.

Mr Woodyer, who was also heavily involved in Wolverhampton Youth Music Theatre, died suddenly in the early hours of Sunday.

Tributes were today paid to the father-of-one, who was a qualified signalman on the Severn Valley Railway and a member of the National Trust.

Mr Woodyer had worked for the council's music service, which provides instrumental teaching for pupils around the city, since 1984 and rose through the ranks to become its head. He was head of woodwind and then deputy head of the service before finally becoming its head.

He also conducted the Wolverhampton Youth Wind Orchestra and led more than 20 musical tours to Europe.

Chris Norton, deputy head of the service, said Mr Woodyer had enriched the lives of thousands of young people over the years. "He was an outstanding musician with a lifetime love and enthusiasm for music," he said. "He was a wonderful teacher and many of his pupils went on to make a career out of music. He will be hugely missed."

Mr Woodyer grew up in Salford, Greater Manchester, and studied clarinet and conducting at Trinity College London where he met his future wife Lesley. He qualified as a teacher at Trent Park Teacher Training College and worked in Nottinghamshire before joining Wolverhampton City Council.

Outside of work, Mr Woodyer was a member of the National Trust and loved railways. He was a devoted husband to Lesley, who passed away in 2009, and a loving father to his daughter Caroline. He also taught at many Wolverhampton schools, primarily at St Peter's where he worked for 25 years.

Adrian Richards, principal of St Peters, said: "He was a great friend to our school and an excellent music teacher. He really supported us and attended all of our concerts at the school. I broke the news of his death to our music students yesterday and they were all very upset."