Doug Shaw by Steve Morl
This is a snap of Doug Shaw taken I believe, in the late autumn of 1967. It’s a scanned copy of a photo I took 44 years ago on a pretty basic camera, time has deteriorated the print, nevertheless looking at this photo, those with long memories will remember Doug, hopefully as I do, as an exceptional teacher.
The picture was taken in the ‘restaurant’ of the Royal Festival Hall on a miserable cold wet Saturday Morning. A selection of us youngsters regularly made our way separately to the festival hall to meet up there with Doug attending a series of classical music concerts. ‘Concerts For Children’, a series organised and produced by Sir Robert Mayer CH, KCVO. The concerts were a great experience. More than just listening to music, there was explanation of composition, the story behind them, such pieces as ‘Peter and the wolf’, ‘The young persons guide to the orchestra’, the ‘Clock symphony’, the ‘Surprise Symphony’, recalling just a few. There would be interaction between the conductor and what seemed like thousands of school children. It was tuition but felt like entertainment.
In those days my parents never needed a moments concern as I travelled to London on the underground to attend from the age of eleven. Times have changed, would we today send eleven year olds off, long distance on the underground to London for a day, with no form of communication? I for one wouldn’t.
During a school concert Mr. Shaw stopped the whole proceedings and told all the parents attending to keep quiet because all the boys had rehearsed for ages to play that evening. He really stood up for his pupils. My parents never forgot that evening, I was playing Triangle at times for him. Music was always good, particularly singing classes. Sorry to hear he has gone.
Julian Sadowski
I owe a lot to Doug. For two years I used to drag my full-size piano accordion on the bus to his house in Gants Hill for a lessons. Later when I expressed the wish to learn to play the organ he put me in touch with Albert Wilson, organist of All Saints, Goodmayes. I have now been playing organ for over 50 years and have conquered The Royal Albert Hall and St Paul’s Cathedral. I still have, and use, a descant to Away in a Manger that he entrusted to me handwritten and unpublished!
I remember him as a great teacher who tried to get each boy to fulfil his music potential.
I remember Mr. Shaw taking us for music lesson for the first time and he stated that if we were prepared to listen to his classical music he would listen to our ‘pop’! The first record he played was ‘Ravel’s Bolero’ and I’ve loved it ever since.
I also well remember his commitment and dedication. I still play the Trombone and keyboards in bands, largely through his enthusiastic support when I played in the Mayfield Brass Band and later in the Redbridge Youth Orchestra. I wanted to give up in the 3rd year – but he would not allow it!!