Terribly Sad News for the Classic Banjo Community

[thereallyniceman]

I am really sorry to let you know that I have just received the very sad news of the unexpected death of a leading member of the UK Banjo Community.  David Wade, who has been a site administrator here on Classic Banjo Ning for ten years died suddenly, and unexpectedly, this afternoon.

We are all shocked and dismayed at this news. David was a leading light in arranging the Banjo Festivals across the UK and his contributions will be sadly missed.  I would like to send my sincere commiserations to Carolyn and his family. He is a great loss to us all and I am still shocked to hear the news.

[Rob MacKillop]

So sorry to hear this awful news. We never met, but did communicate through email and phone, especially when David took up the theorbo. And who knew more about the zither banjo? David will most certainly be missed far and wide. Best wishes to his family!

[carrie horgan]

I am so sorry to hear this terrible news.  I met David at the Clowne Banjo rally and he was always friendly and encouraging to new attendees such as myself.  He did a lot to encourage interest in the zither banjo in particular.  Very sad news for our banjo community. 

[nick Kelly]

This is terrible news, I met Dave on just one occasion  when we dined together and drank a few beers, this was the Friday preceding the Midland Banjo Festival, I found him to be good company and extremely knowledgeable in particular about zither banjos and CE instruments, I spent the Saturday at the festival and found Dave to be a great host and good company ribbing me about being a "Soft Southerner" always exhibiting a passion for all things banjo related while attending to the sound system for the afternoon concert with a great deal of consideration for the performers, truly a sad day for UK based banjo people .

[Trapdoor2]

I'm in shock. David and I used to talk a bit over Skype and early on, he blessed me with a number of CDs with many-many scans of sheet music...and arranged for me to purchase many ZB pieces and parts to get my Windsor #1 up and running. His knowledge of the ZB and its music was unmatched.

My heart goes out to Carolyn and the family. Sad day indeed!

[Jody Stecher]

I am so saddened. David was just as you say, Ian— a leading light. We had been email correspondents for a decade or so when at last I met him and Carolyn at a banjo rally in Backwell that I was able to attend, as I was working in the UK at the time. I found him to be just as I had imagined:  a quiet gentle man, always ready to share his immense knowledge of Things Banjo. I send my sincere condolences to his loved ones. 

[David Cotton]

I'm terribly sorry to hear this. Dave and I had become good friends over the last few years, through our BMG and Clifford Essex connections.  He was a lovely man, hugely knowledgeable about all kinds of music and an avid collector of beautiful instruments. My heart goes out to Carolyn and his family.

[Lewis Mock]

RIP

[Russ Chandler]

This is dreadful news. Dave was a lovely guy and a guru on zither banjo.

He was the judge when I won the Keeler memorial trophy for fingerstyle banjo a few years ago.

Poor Dave.

[German David Patarroyo]

Really sad news. My sincerest condolences to his family and friends.

[1ekj5x8wsbbic]

So sorry to hear the sad news. Sincere condolences. From a William Temlett grandson.

[Frank Coyne]

So sad to hear that news, a really nice guy who shared everything Banjo with one and all. May he RIP and charm the Angels with his playing and goodwill. Frank Coyne, Ireland

[Alan Jones]

Shocking news! David was a regular at Cleckheaton Festival, he will be really missed. Sincere condolences to all his family and friends.