Friends
Richard and Roselind Evans
We met Eric and Ellen in the 1960's through Anne who was on the staff at David Lister School in Hull. Richard was Head of Music at the school and we soon learned of Eric's love of music, particularly chamber music which gave him an opportunity to play his beloved 'cello, made specially for him in Wales.
We spent many happy hours playing works by Beethoven, Brahms and so on for clarinet, 'cello and piano. Eric practised assiduously beforehand whether playing just for our own pleasure or for a small audience of family and friends.
When he was no longer able to play his 'cello he wanted it to be passed on to someone who would benefit from playing it and would treasure it in the same way as he did. Three years ago it was given to a very promising 13 year old girl, Karen McKay, who is a pupil at Auchmuty High School in Fife. Karen was so delighted with her new instrument that she wrote a letter to Eric and enclosed a photograph of her playing the 'cello and a recording of the piece she was playing. She has made tremendous progress in the last three years and Anne has been able to come to Fife and hear Karen playing in the Fife Festival of Music where, earlier this year, she won the coveted Concerto prize, playing the Elgar 'Cello Concerto.
I am sure that Eric would be delighted to know that his 'cello is playing such an important part in what is almost certain to be a very promising musical career.