I am saddened to report the death of Leigh Heath, always known to everyone as Ted. In the early 1990s Ted founded the Aylesbury Town Band, which in 1996 was reconstituted as Aylesbury Community Concert Band, now Aylesbury Concert Band.
After leaving school Ted joined the army where he learnt the clarinet and served in the Band of the Worcestershire Regiment. On leaving the army he served in the Diplomatic Corps in Bulgaria and Persia (now Iran). Later he retrained as a teacher and settled in Aylesbury, where he founded the band. He always wanted to play clarinet rather than conduct the band, however, so in 1996 he passed the baton to Alan Mossford, who helped nurture and grow the band into the organisation we have today. Unfortunately Ted’s later life was dogged by ill health which made it difficult for him to pursue his love of music.
When not teaching or playing, Ted loved horses, and was a keen gardener.
Ted touched the lives of many people who remember him fondly for his skill and enthusiasm as a teacher, as well as his love of life and his sense of humour. He will be sorely missed.