Musicians gather for tutor tribute concert

MUSICIANS will travel from across the country to perform at a memorial concert for Sharnford flautist Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Hextall.

A tribute recital featuring the Heart of England Recorder Orchestra (Hero), of which Miss Hextall was a member, and performances by other friends and former pupils will be held on Sunday October 8 in All Saints’ Church, Sapcote, starting at 4.30pm.

Folk musician, music tutor and science educator Miss Hextall died in Nuneaton’s George Eliot Hospital following a short illness at the end of October last year, aged 44.

Scores of people who had been taught by and performed with the former Mount Grace and John Cleveland College student attended a service of thanksgiving for her life held in the church at which more than £1,000 was raised for its organ restoration fund.

Proceeds from this month’s memorial concert will benefit the same cause.

Miss Hextall grew up in Sapcote, moving to the village as a young girl with her parents Margaret and Keith who still live there.

As well as teaching and composing she performed with folkrock group Black Rat, a regular on the English festival circuit and a popular act at The Sharnford Arms pub where she led monthly music nights.

Miss Hextall was also a member of Mad Science East Midlands which provides interactive science sessions for schools and children’s groups across the region.

Managing director Jonathan Longfellow described her as “a shining light in our organisa- tion”.

He said: “She was a person who clearly lived her life for the benefit of other people.

“An enthusiastic and energetic member of the team, she had a positive effect on everyone she met.”

Hero, the recorder orchestra with which Miss Hextall played for around 20 years, boasts a repertoire from renaissance and baroque to contemporary pieces and special arrangements performed on a variety of sizes of instrument under the direction of conductor Michelle Holloway.

Two orchestra members who appeared on Britain’s Got Talent playing handbells in 2011 have also promised to reprise their TV show turn.

Tickets for the event cost £6 and are available in advance from Mr and Mrs Hextall on Hinckley 274662 or on the door on the evening.

A memorial concert for former Heart of England Recorder Orchestra member Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Hextall, seen here front row, far left, is to be held in All Saints’ Church, Sapcote, featuring the orchestra and other musician friends and former pupils.

Musician, music teacher and science educator Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Hextall, 44, from Sharnford, who died on October 29 2016 in George Eliot Hospital, Nuneaton, following a short and sudden illness.