Over the intervening years Carl has remained in regular contact with the band and has played with us on many occasions both at concerts and contest. He was part of the bass section when we played at the National Finals in 2002 and the area contest in 2003.
Carl Richardson was yet another brass player initially taught by former Derwent President, the late Eric Johnson, and went on to gain a music degree with diplomas from the Royal Northern College of Music. He has played with many of the country's top bands and has been a member of William Davis, Point of Ayr, Sellers International and Williams Fairey
.
He has played with the Halle Orchestra and the Liverpool Philharmonic and performed the Vaughan Williams Tuba Concerto in Chester.
Carl developed leukemia about 10 years ago and became very seriously ill, however he bravely fought back with a "life is for living" attitude. He was a larger than life character who had that knack of creating laughter and fun about them. Many members fondly remember Carl entertaining us in the hotel bar into the early hours the night before a Pontins contest with his stories and humerous anecdotes. His ill health kept throwing ever more problems at him, requiring regular trips into hospital, and several operations, but he always came bouncing back with a smile. Regrettably his ill health finally overtook him at just 31yrs old.
As well being a tuba player Carl also conducted and alongside being the Musical Director of Uttoexter Band, he also conducted Derwent Brass on several occasions in rehearsal and concert
He was a respected brass teacher and also enjoyed composing and arranging.
Carl was a dear friend to Derwent Brass, a great character with a positive outlook on life and an outstanding tuba player. He will be deeply and sadly missed by us all.
It was with deep sadness that Derwent Brass, along with the wider brass band world learnt of the death of our good friend Carl Richardson on Friday 28th July 2006.
Carl was an outstanding tuba player and had been associated with Derwent Brass since 1995 when he first looked us up and
came along for a blow to keep his lip in whilst on vacation from music college. He immediately developed a rapport with the members of the band and started attending rehearsals and engagements on a regular basis whenever he was in the area. He joined the band and greatly enhanced the bass section for our first ever trip to the National Finals in 1995.
