OBITUARY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18546, 21 August 1928, Page 9

OBITUARY.

MR E. C. DERRY. The death occurred early this morning, after a short illness, of Mr Edward Charles Derry, for thirty years conductor of Derry’s Military Band. Mr Derry was fifty-six years of age and all his life was a keen bandsman. He was born in Christchurch and was educated at the West Christchurch School, where his ability as a cornet player made itself apparent. At the age of sixteen he won his first championship with the cornet. Eventually he retired undefeated New Zealand champion cornet player. The military band was with him a hobby, and he gave an enormous amount of labour and time to it purely for love of the work. He- was solo cornet player for the New Zealand band that toured the Old Country. When he left school Mr Derry went to work in the Addington Workshops, where he was employed as a fitter up till about ten years ago. Then he retired to give all his time to the band. For any charitable cause Mr Derry was a willing worker, and many benevolent bodies remember the band concerts he arranged for them. Mr Derry’s death will come as a shock to the many friends his genial personality won him. He got a chill about a week ago from which pneumonia developed. Mr Derry was unmarried.