Piano star found dead on beach

Press, 29 December 1979, Page 1

Piano star found dead on beach

NZPA-Reuter London The naked body of a man washed up on a beach has been identified by the police as one of Britain’s most brilliant pianists, who had been missing for 12 days. Terence Judd, aged 22, vanished from his parents’ home in north-west London only days before he was scheduled to leave for a concert tour of the Soviet Union, where he was placed fourth in the Tchaikovsky piano competition in Moscow last year. Police sources say no foul play is suspected and that Mr Judd might have committed suicide. But Mr Judd's death remains a mystery to his parents. "He had everything to live for,” said his father, Mr Anthony Judd. “This is a tragedy not just to us, but to the music world.” Terence Judd was a serious, soft-spoken young man who hid a wry sense of humour behind his hornrimmed glasses and curly brown hair.

He toured Europe, played with many top orchestras, and gave solo recitals at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London — all rare honours for a pianist so young. The six-concert Russian tour was to have started with a performance in Moscow on Christmas Day and included an appearance with the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra. It was to have been his third trip to the Soviet Union since the Tchaikovsky competition, and he was said to be avidly awaiting it. He left home after Sunday lunch on December 16 for a mid-afternoon stroll, wearing light-blue trousers, a fur-collared coat, and cap. He had no cash or luggage with him, and no passport or papers.

He was not seen again until his body was washed ashore at the foot of cliffs at Eastbourne, Sussex, on Monday. The body was identified from dental records. There were no injury marks on it, the police said. The cause of death was drowning.