TRIBUTES have been paid to Devizes music teacher and tennis lover Michael Oliver, who has died aged 76.

Mr Oliver, of Avon Road, who died in hospital, was director of Devizes Junior Eisteddfod for 25 years. He also set up and ran the Devizes Primary Schools Music Summer School for 30 years and was musical director of Devizes Light Operatic Society for 15 years.

In 2011 he retired from teaching the string orchestra at Wiltshire College in Devizes after 50 years.

Members of Devizes Town Band have reacted with sorrow. A spokesman said on Tuesday: “It is with extreme sadness that we receive the news this evening that following a period of serious illness in hospital, Michael Oliver has sadly passed away.

“An absolute giant of musical education and development for over 50 years in and around Wiltshire, but specifically here in his home town of Devizes, his passing leaves a significant hole in our community, as well as for those who were closest to him, his family.

“The band’s thoughts and condolences are therefore very much with them for a man who gave so many, so much. Another very very sad loss for our town.”

Former pupils took to social media to pay tribute to the man who taught so many to love music.

Mr Oliver, who played the viola and violin, started as a member of the college string orchestra in 1955 and he took over as the teacher and conductor at the age of 20 from Haydn Howells.

When he retired from the orchestra in 2011 it gave a concert at St John’s Church, Devizes, to mark his leaving. At the last rehearsal the group presented him with a cake shaped like a violin.

He said at the time: “I never thought when I started I would be here 50 years but there are other members of the orchestra who have been in it for 30 to 40 years.

“It’s quite unusual to have an amateur string orchestra, most are symphony orchestras. I have always ran the orchestra so that people who haven’t played in a long time can return to it by learning easier pieces and go on to difficult pieces.”

Mr Oliver was born and brought up in Devizes and attended Devizes Grammar School. His parents, Geoff and Vin, owned a music shop, GH Oliver and Co, at Handel House, Sidmouth Street.

He worked in the shop and at 19 began working for the Wiltshire Rural Music Service as a peripatetic music teacher in primary and secondary schools until retiring in 2005.

He was also a stalwart and life member of Devizes Tennis Club where his annual toasted sandwich parties were legendary. He played with a ferocious spin which he also used to good affect at table tennis. He kept a written note of every score of every match he played for the club.

Former Devizes Tennis Club chairman Rick Kibby said: “Michael was a real stalwart of the club where he was much loved. He held a number of club records and saw the club develop so much over the years from a time when it was just grass courts to what it is today. He will be much missed.”

A thanskgiving service for his life will be held in Devizes on January 20.
The service at St John’s Church at 1pm will follow a private cremation earlier in the day. A wake will then be held at Devizes Sports Club.