What can we say about the great man that hasn't already been said! I'm typing this through tears so excuse any mistakes. If God plays brass he'd better be prepared for our Eric. Angels won't be playing harps they'll be on euphonium. If you keep imagining that you hear Blaydon Races with a touch of Doggy, it'll be our man. They don't make them like that anymore.
Jennifer Marsden
The biggest loss to Derwent Brass in it's 10 yr history,a small part in his 60+ years contribution to the banding world. He was, is and will always be the biggest personality in the brass band world. Sadley missed but very happily remembered. Farewell Big E
Chris Clayton
I have known Eric for about 25 years. A man of great stature both physically and spiritually you always knew when he was there; he had the ability to fill the room in more ways than one. I count myself privileged to have known him and even more privileged to have played with him. Even at the end of his playing career he still had the ability to move me and probably most of the rest of the audience to tears. We are all richer for having known Eric and I shall never forget him.
Phil Neville
I might be young but even I can see in my time what a massive contribution Eric made to the brass band movement and more closely to me-Derwent Brass. A fantastic character that will be greatly missed.
Chris Leonard
I just wanted to add to the comments on the big guy, who we'll all miss. A great character & an inspiration to us all; always one for a joke, I'm sure Him upstairs won't mind the Brunhilde wig, musical ties, flashing red noses etc. etc.
Karen Pitts
Eric Johnson was one of the warmest and sincere bandsmen I have come across, and I have never known hin to be anything other than cheerful and enthusiastic. A willing and eager bandsman as well as a talented musician. I am delighted that he was a big part of the last 10 years of my musical life and I appreciated his help and advice on so many different aspects. My life is the better for having known Eric - I shall never forget his first rehearsal with Derwent Brass way back in 1993, or his final performance at Queens Hall in 2002 - we knew we were in the presence of a master.
Keith Leonard [Musical Director Derwent Brass]
We were very sorry to hear the tragic news about dear Eric . What a smashing chap - you could not wish to meet a more loveable person. An expert at his craft who is going to be sadly missed by all who knew him. We certainly appreciatd his playing in the concerts he performed for us, particularly his solos. The 'Friends' have particular memories since he performed his last concert with us at Quens Hall. His solo performance that night will always be with us. It was a great evening with the presentations being made and that eveing is the way to remember Eric.
Roy Poole (Friends of the Nightingale MacMillan Unit)
I have just discovered this sad news about Eric. (October 2003). Only a few days ago, I returned from the Pontins contest at Prestatyn. The 1st section test piece was Resurgam. Whilst at Pontins, I was hoping to see Eric there playing Resurgam because I knew that very few people could match a sound like his. I have never forgot the time when I was walking past the Webb Ivory Band in a rehearsal on Resurgam at the William Allitt School. I must have been about 12 years old (1968 ish!!). Eric's fantastic sound on the Euphonium solo was amazing, a sound that has never left my memories. Back to my school days again now. When I left the local youth band I was asked by Eric to join the Ind Coope Band. Eric was the conductor and what a great time I had there. Eric was so supportive of all his band members. Later in my career I saw Eric listening to me at a local solo contest, his supportive comments about my playing were lovely, but, then that was Eric, a lovely person. I have justed 'flashed back' to when I actually 1st met Eric. It was at the Burton on Trent Music Festival, Eric conducted the John Taylor School Band, they always seemed to beat us!! Earlier last year (2002), I saw Eric at the Grand Shield. I guess that he had come up to Blackpool especially to hear the test piece, Carnival Romain, a piece of music that he loved). As usual, Eric was his happy smiling self. I have lived in Manchester now for 8 years, it was so nice to see him again. These are my thoughts/memories of a 'Superb Player' and a 'Genuine Man' What else can I say, except that: I remember his 2 sons very well, Graham and Richard. I am sorry to hear of your sad loss. Your father was a very well respect person. God bless him.
Phil Symonds
I had the honour of sitting next to Eric during my time as 1st Baritone with Newhall Band. as well as a true friend - he was my inspiration.
This page is a tribute to the band's late President, Eric Johnson.
For several months Eric had been bravely battling against cancer, a fight he eventually lost, passing away peacefully late on Saturday 15th February 2003
Below are details of :-
a tribute to Eric's wonderful banding life
and details of Eric's funeral which included of course a brass band
a Memorial Concert given by Derwent Brass at the Salvation Army Hall in Burton on Trent on June 21st 2003
the Eric Johnson memorial trophy
personal tributes
Principal Cornet
Solo Cornet
2nd Cornet
3rd Cornet
Flugel Horn
1st Horn
2nd Baritone
Euphonium
Bass Trombone
EEb Bass
Percussion
David Neville
Mick Pattinson
Eddie Toon
Neville Eden
Phil McBride
Patricia Woodings
Cat Birchall
Dave Bartle
Howard Smith
Peter Dukes
Sion Hathaway
Solo Cornet
Soprano
2nd Cornet
3rd Cornet
Solo Horn
2nd Horn
Solo Euphonium
Solo Trombone
EEb Bass
BBb Bass
Percussion
Philip Neville
Dai Roberts
Gordon Hughes
David Howell
Brian Savage
Melvin Hale
Mark Bousie
Michael Savage
Carl Richardson
John Evanson
Trevor Hathaway
Solo Cornet
Repiano
2nd Cornet
3rd Cornet
1st Horn
1st Baritone
Euphonium
2nd Trombone
EEb Bass
BBb Bass
Peter Woodings
Adrian Beresford
Ben Standley
Nick Henwood
Andrea Franke
Adrian Drewitt
Dan Cheadle
Karen Davies
Ron Banks
Dave Lucas
Letter received from St Giles Hospice :
Thank you very much indeed for the wonderful donation for the hospice. We send our sincere thanks to the members of Derwent Brass Band for raising this generous sum for St Giles, and to launch a book writen by the late Eric Johnson.
Without the wonderful support we receive from individuals and organisations in the community like yourselves we would not be able to give the very special care and support our patients and their families need.
There will be many who will need our special loving care in the years to come and we appreciate your thoughfulness - again our heartfelt thanks.
Mrs Laura A M Pennycuick
Fundraising Co-Ordinator
ERIC JOHNSON MEMORIAL TROPHY
The first recipient of the new Eric Johnson Memorial Trophy was Gary Glover, principal euphonium of Carlton Brass Nottingham.
The trophy, in the form of a grand shield, was donated by Derwent Brass in memory of their much loved late President, Eric Johnson, and was given to the North East Midlands Brass Band Association to be awarded each year for the best euphonium at the annuual NEMBBA contest, which is usually held in February.
The NEMBBA contest was held this year on February 15th at the Rolls Rpyce Pavilion, and was a 4 section contest, and was well supported from bands around the region in all four sections (1st -4th). All the bands performed the same test pieces to be used at
Eric Johnson :-
In 1937, a young 8 year old Eric turned up for his first lesson learning to play the euphonium at Burton on Trent Salvation Army. After mastering the basics, he was allowed to join the Young People's band where his father was the conductor. Following the usual pattern in Salvation Army families, as he got older Eric progressed to play in the senior band at Burton. Eric's special musical skills were beginning to be recognised and during this period Eric was appointed as the Songster Leader at Burton and at the same time he was also asked to take on the role of the Band Secretary.
At that time the band needed a new set of instruments, and as the new Band Secretary Eric set about the enormous task of fund raising with his typical enthusiasm - and in 1966 and new set of instruments was purchased.
When Eric was 21 years old he went off to do his national service, where naturally he continued his music, playing euphonium in the
North Staffs Regimental Band. Most of his time during national service was spent in Italy. After completing his national service, Eric returned home to Burton on Trent, to take the solo euphonium seat in the Salvation Army banIn those days Eric was working as an Inspector for the Water Authority. There was a school band which needed a band trainer and conductor, so when asked, Eric happily took on this role and ran the school band, rehearsals, training etc. fitting it all into his lunch hours ! Eric found that he enjoyed working with young people and so he completely changed his career, went for teacher training, and began teaching in 1967. However, he was not teaching music, Eric's first teaching job was as a craft teacher. Of course it wasn't long before music inevitably took over, and eventually Eric was appointed as the Head of the Music School at Bond Street, Burton on Trent. There are now of course literally dozens of bands who have very competent players who were taught by Eric Johnson.
At round about the same time, Eric left the Salvation Army band and joined the Newhall band, who at that time were a Championship Section band. After playing for the Newhall Band for some years, Eric then moved to the Royal Doulton Band, who at that time were a very well respected Championship section band of very high standard. During the time that Eric was with that band, the Musical Director retired, and as a direct result the Royal Doulton sponsorship was withdrawn. The band then found itself with no money and no conductor! Whilst some would sit and complain, Eric took it upon himself to set off in pursuit of another sponsor, - and meanwhile got on with the conducting himself.
After Royal Doulton and City of Stoke bands, Eric concentrated on conducting and became the Musical Director of the Ind Coope band from 1988 through to 1991 and then he put all his efforts into his teaching and his youth band work before his retirement in 1993.
After he retired from full time work, Eric joined the then recently formed Derwent Brass, naturally on Solo Euphonium his first performance with the band was a Christmas Concert at the Derbyshire Police Headquarters in Ripley. Without doubt most people would have been content at that, but Eric was busy as ever in retirement, being very much in demand as a player and teacher. After an approach was made to him in 1996, he set about forming a new brass band in Uttoxeter with his usual enthusiasm . Only a few months later, instruments had been found, music had been begged and borrowed, a rehearsal room was located, various resting or retired or otherwise available players were found and persuaded to join, and Uttoxeter Band was up and running - with Eric as the Musical Director.
At the same time he was still occupying the solo euphonium seat in Derwent Brass up until his retirement from active playing in 2002 During those years Eric was always a totally committed and enthusiastic member of the band and made memorable and invaluable contributions to the band's success; he took part in the band's first National Finals appearance and was regularly featured as a soloist. On his 70th birthday Eric was the featured soloist in Derwent's performance at the Buxton Entertainment Contest, playing Czardas. His last performance with the band was a concert in the Queen's Hall Derby in June 2002, and doubtless many band members and audience for that occasion will recall his performance of Blaydon Races, followed by a moving and faultless rendition of the welsh air MyFanwy.
After retirement from active playing in June 202, Eric was appointed as the first President of Derwent Brass, and the band were honoured that Eric readily accepted the appointment and continued to actively support the band, even through his terminal illness. Even during the last few months Eric was still on the phone to our Musical Director, sorting out players, suggesting music to be played and was still occasionally coming to Friday night rehearsals "to keep his lip in!". We were delighted that Eric was able to attend a take part in the band's 10th Anniversary social. in November 2002
Eric was one of those wonderful people who would always cheerfully lend a hand to any task that arose, a highly talented and unique bandsman who will be deeply missed by many many bandspeople. Derwent Brass are proud and honoured to have had such a close association with Eric.
Eric's funeral :
The funeral took place at the Salvation Army in Burton on Trent on Thursday 27th February 2003, and needless to say Eric had arranged for a brass band. This was no ordinary band, but a band of players chosen in the main by Eric himself, covering the many aspects of his musical life, past pupils, Salvation Army friends, colleagues from Derwent Brass etc. Some had travelled many miles to take part and of course none would have missed it. Each and every player felt privileged to be taking part and the band could have been at least doubled with as many more players who would have loved to have taken part. The Salvation Army hall was full to capacity, aisles full of standing congregation which even stretched behind the band- so many people wishing to pay respects.
Eric was of course unique and the arrangements he had made reminded us. Hymns were Dear Lord and Father of Mankind, How Great Thou Art and a rousing Thine Be The Glory. The band were asked to perform Roy Newsome's arrangment of Deep Harmony and Peter Graham's arrangement of Crimond- and the service concluded with the March Montreal Citadel !
The band, conducted by Keith Leonard, comprised of :-.
Memorial Concert
the forthcoming regional championships, and certainly towards the end of the day were performing to a hall well filled with supporters and enthusiasts. After the judges deliberation's (Peter Roberts & David Horsfield) the winning bands were anmounced with Matlock taking top honours in the 4th section, Shirland Training in the 3rd section, Carlton Brass took 1st place in the 2nd section and the final prize for top honours in section 1 went to the Riddings band.
Then came the special soloists awards, and of course the announcement of a new award, the Eric Johnson Memorial Trophy. After some introductory explanations by Area Secretary Brian Eggleshaw, Eric's son Graham Johnson was called to make the presentation - a very proud moment for him indeed.. The adjudicators had decided that the recipient was to be the principal euphonium of Carlton Brass, Gary Glover, who had indeed played wonderfully earlier in the day to help Carlton claim another top prize.
A
Memorial Concert
by
Derwent Brass
to celebrate the memory of
Eric Johnson
to be held at the Salvation Army Hall
Moseley Street, Burton on Trent
Staurday June 21st 7:30pm
Tickets £5.00 available from :
Chris Clayton 01332 380406
Adrian Drewitt 01332 731135
Graham Johnson 01283 790070
All proceeds will go to the
St Giles Hospice
Discussions with Eric's family confirmed that we were of a like mind, that as far as could be possible this should be not a sad occasion but more a celebration of Eric's musical life., so no apologies were needed for the inclusion of big concert items, big band and jazz items - Eric loved them all. The finale - Eric Ball's Kingdom Triumphant - was a suitable conclusion being one of Eric's favourites and a piece he had the honour of playing under the baton of Eric Ball himself
Playing to an almost full hall, Derwent Brass really rose to the occasion to pay tribute to our friend, fellow musician and President, and the concert included superb solo items from Principal Cornet Jamie Cooper, Flugel Horn Ruth Fenner and what must have been the most difficult of all, Dan Cheadle who has taken over the Solo Euphonium chair from Eric, is a past pupils of Eric's and stood up to thrill the audience with a fine rendition of Varied Mood.
All the band's items were warmly received by an enthusiastic audience, and the whole evening was held together in fine style by compere John Savage, a friend of Eric's from boyhood days..
SUMMON THE HEROES
BREEZIN DOWN BROADWAY
I DREAMT I DWELT IN MARBLE HALLS
BLUE RONDO A LA TURC
CRIMOND
SPIRITUAL SOUNDS
GEORGIA ON MY MIND
I'LL WALK WITH GOD
BOLD AS BRASS
I N T E R V A L
FEST MUSIK DER STADT WIEN
LIGHT WALK
VARIED MOOD
GABRIEL'S OBOE
MALAGUENA
IT DON'T MEAN A THING
AMERICA - SOMEWHERE from West Side Story
DEEP HARMONY
THE KINDOM TRIUMPHANT
MONTREAL CITADEL
Following the sad loss of Eric in February 2003 Derwent Brass felt a need to express the affection and respect felt for him and it was quickly decided that the most appropriate gesture would be a Memorial Concert
All proceeds from the evening were donated to the St Giles Hospice who had cared for Eric in his final days. The whole programme was:-
