It's an honour to post these few words about Frank Wood.

My memories of Frank go back to when I first met him in 1983. He'd not long been appointed to Bolton Music Service as its head of woodwind. I had also been appointed as conductor of Bolton Youth Concert Band (BYCB) about the same time. (I was a head of music in a Wigan secondary school, so had no immediate connection, except that I'd been a member of Bolton Youth Orchestra in my teens and had supported Bolton Youth Concert Band in the very early 1980s as a volunteer tutor.)

Our paths crossed when he had been asked (or volunteered??) to be woodwind tutor to BYCB. At that time BYCB was a provincial hard-working bunch of young people, but had achieved little musical success. Along with Ian Duckworth, Garry Watton, and then Chris Wormald and Lynn Fisher and Simon Talbot and others, Frank, with that team, and I, together built a formidable musical powerhouse. After a couple of visits to National Festival of Music for Youth at the Royal Festival Hall, BYCB was declared British Open Wind Band Champions at Wembley Arena in 1985. Frank's contribution to that achievement was immeasurable. He coached an average woodwind section into one of the most musical, technical and accomplished sections of any wind band in the country, mostly by his inspirational leadership, his flawless musical and technical modelling and his sheer willpower to drive up standards of playing among the young people

But that was only the start. He had already formed Bolton Youth Stage Band, a brilliant big-band ensemble of BYCB and other players. They went on to achieve great distinction in their musical and social prowess. Frank then become tutor to Bolton Youth Orchestra, another ensemble I conducted. By that time I had been appointed Head of Bolton Music Service and Frank was, technically, one of my staff. But I never thought of it that way, despite me being over 20 years his junior. We coalesced around one simple theme: how to be musical, and how to be the best you can be. A lesson he demonstrated time and time again in his work in Bolton.

I'll never forget Frank's musical prodigy, nor his technical expertise, nor his vast contribution to music education in Bolton. I learned so much from him. In 1990 I left Bolton for pastures new. Frank became the next Head of Bolton Music Service, which I know both thrilled him, rewarded him and vexed him.

I deliberately haven't mentioned the countless evenings and lunchtimes spent in The Albion where we plotted, planned, celebrated and commiserated. It had become the "go to" venue for musicians in Bolton, and Frank was always at the centre of discussions and plotting whenever he was there.

I will always remember Frank as a consummate musician, a dedicated teacher, a loyal colleague, and a good friend. His sense of humour was unique and always compelling. His commitment was unswerving. He wasn't only hard working, he lived and breathed his music education philosophy. For all we could have hugely fantastic times socially (and we did, believe me!) he was a seriously brilliant musician, sometimes rarely a hair's breath from some technical argument on breathing or tonguing, but a really great teacher.

Frank was a good guy. One of life's unique and most distinguished characters. But above all he was a good guy.

RIP Frank. Love you and miss you.