Musician is remembered

John Reid" class="imageframe imgalignright" height="130" src="http://www.shropshirestar.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/30reid.jpg" title="John Reid" width="175"/>St Nicholas Church in Newport was filled yesterday for the funeral of county musician John Reid.Instead of their usual date at the English Haydn Festival in Bridgnorth, which Mr Reid founded, the likes of Iain Sutherland, principal conductor of the Midland Symphony Orchestra, a BBC and Haydn Festival favourite, joined family and friends in the Shropshire market town for a service of thanksgiving.

Conducted by a friend of Mr Reid and his wife Sandra, the Rev Sally Day, the uplifting service included contributions from old friends flautist Donald Davidson and Martin Fone, who was also a music business partner, Haydn Festival friend and sponsor Anthony Thompson and Mr Reid's son David.

Shrewsbury School's director of music John Moore conducted members of Shrewsbury Community Choir and Newport's Beaumaris Singers, in part of Haydn's great oratorio, The Creation.

Quartet David Lewis, Sue Kinnersley, Richard Muncey and Jonathon Price played from a Haydn String Quartet and before being taken on his final journey to the "green" areaâ in Newport cemetery, there was yet more Haydn to end a service which John Reid had partly planned himself.

His burial spot will be marked by a baby oak tree sent from Glamis Castle, the Queen Mother's childhood home, where he had staged many memorable summer concerts.

Mr Reid died aged 63 at his Newport home last Friday following a six-month battle with cancer.

Donations in his memory were for Newport Cottage Care Centre and the Musicians' Benevolent Fund.

By Shirley Tart