Liverpool mourns its friendly tuba
NewsSandra Roberts has informed us of the death of George Smith, former tuba player of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and one of the great characters of British orchestral life. George, who had retired to Spain, was 88.
Sandra writes: ‘George was a lovely, gentle character. He never owned a TV, rode everywhere by bike/tandem/triplet, staunch vegan, don’t think he even had electricity at his very small place in Irby, and one of his antics included getting him arrested in the Mersey tunnel! That story made national press and television.
‘He retired due to embouchure dystonia and took up piano tuning and spent his years riding around various friends in Europe to tune their pianos while he stayed a few days “in return”.
‘He cycled to Liverpool each summer to ‘Tickle the Ivories’ in Liverpool One and always called in at the Phil to say hello. Then he would turn around to cycle back to Seville.’
Here‘s the story of his arrest.
That’s so sad to hear. I would never have guessed George was 88! I remember him being arrested and he told the story many times with great relish. A truly special character. RIP George. X
You’ve reversed the image of the tuba. They don’t work that way.
Maybe it’s an image of PDQ Bach’s left-handed sewer tuba…
Wonderful player and an even better character. Rip George!
George cycled to our wedding in 1983. He used to wash his hair in rain water and shaved once a year I seem to remember. He was an amazing character and will be sorely missed. His way of life obviously kept him looking much younger than his chronological years. RIP George.
I shared a house with him in Clifton, Bristol in 1971 and remained friends. I remember many adventures shared on visits to the hut on Thurstaton common and rides on tandem. A legend in his own lifetime. Bless you George. Marian