Book of Condolences for Alan Pinches

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"Maureen, Rob and Alison, what was so clear from Alan's service today was how consistent all our memories of Alan are. We all remember Alan's patience, his love of the guitar and his willingness to persevere with those of us who just did not have his talent and his strength of character to practice enough.

His lessons were so much more than just about the guitar; the discussions about politics, the economy, the world of banking were all welcome relief from the daily life. I miss my Thursday evening lessons greatly.

Our very best wishes at this difficult time.

Adrian, Ginny and the Boys"

A poem in loving and joyful memory of Alan Pinches - by Lois Tarbet

Deep within your well of justice
Ripples of discontent were stirred
By injustice to vine workers
Toiling two thousand years ago.

Generous with your gifts
Encouragement never failed
The decades of eager musicians
Toiling over strings and scales.

Steadfast in your resolve
Inspiration poured out
To believers and non-believers
Toiling to open windows to heaven

Constant from your quiet soul
Radiated love and dedication
To your family and friends
Now toiling to follow your example.

This poem was inspired by Robbie’s words at Alan’s funeral and thanksgiving service. How can you do justice to the many attributes of a man like Alan? He was someone who cared so much about justice – even to the point of constantly questioning the injustices done to vine workers in the bible story. Even though he had towering achievements in his professional life as a musician, he had the humility, patience and concern to encourage his many awe-struck guitar pupils. Judging from comments made after the thanksgiving service, that encouragement is something that will never die. He had an unshakeable resolve and followed a path as a professional musician that was not always easy, but his resolve has inspired so many and, as Peter said at the thanksgiving service, his music and teaching opened windows in heaven. Most importantly, his love for his family was visible and tangible. All we can do now is to follow his example to keep him with us and spread his encouragement and inspiration to others.

Some personal thoughts of Alan - by Ray Tarbet

I feel very honoured to have been asked to say a few words here today. I speak as a long-time friend of Alan and probably his oldest guitar pupil.

I was looking through my old music manuscripts that I have from my lessons with Alan and saw that it all started for me back in November 1982 when my car became stuck in a snowdrift outside a music store near Croydon. In the window was a six string guitar looking for a home. I saw it as providential as I had always wanted a guitar and to learn to play it properly.

The first part was easy and I walked out of the store the proud owner of an EKO six string acoustic guitar. After seeing Alan’s advert for guitar tuition in the Croydon Advertiser I made contact and we arranged our first lesson during which I remember Alan telling me that my EKO guitar had a reputation for being difficult to play! It was - but it never put me off!

Since that very first lesson, one of many, Alan and I enjoyed lots of discussions during and after guitar lessons on many subjects: politics, religion, current world events and of course our joint passion for music especially that of the Beatles.

Alan had lots of stories of rock n roll greats and the history of popular music. We also shared wonderful memories of Portsmouth & Southsea during the 1960’s where I lived at the time and where Alan was based for a while playing at local venues.

Alan, Maureen and I always kept in touch even when I moved away from the area in the 1980s. We were delighted when Alan and Maureen came to our wedding in Brighton in 1992, especially as Alan’s magic guitar playing was implicated in our romance.

My overwhelming memory of Alan is of a devoted father and husband, a dedicated teacher and a brilliant musician. I always admired the way Alan had decided to live life on his terms and to remain a professional musician and not become part of the mainstream.
Despite the challenges this sometimes brought, the Pinches household was always full of laughter and fun. Alan always had a new story to tell about Robbie and Alison’s hobbies and achievements or about the antics of one of the many pets. I remember especially one of Alan and Maureen’s dogs, a rather scary looking German Shepherd, disarmingly called Barney, joining me for my first guitar lesson.

After Alan was diagnosed with his illness he showed remarkable courage and determination to carry on with his life and despite several major health setbacks, Alan still managed to maintain his sense of humour while he continued his teaching, played occasional gigs and enjoyed annual family holidays in his beloved Cornwall where his favourite poet, John Betjeman made his final home.

Lois and I were very fortunate to join Alan and Maureen and their family on some of their annual holidays to Cornwall. One time Alan took us to visit Bodmin Jail where he first met Maureen - not then a prison but a music venue! On another occasion Alan took us on a long, long walk to see the half-submerged St. ENODOC Church where John Betjeman was buried.

My wife Lois would now like to read an extract from a poem of John Betjeman for Alan.

……………………………………..

Alan and I both loved the DVD film of the 2002 Memorial Concert for George Harrison – another guitar great. At the beginning of the Concert for George, Ravi Shankar set the scene by saying to the assembled friends and family that he felt that George was there with them on that evening at the Royal Albert Hall by saying “How could he not be here with all the people who loved him so much?” In the same way I feel that Alan is here with us all today.

Notes from the service - by Dave Towler

I am going to miss Al

I am going to miss him as a TEACHER
Miss him for his skills and passion as a musician.
  What he has taught me I hope will stay with me but what I will miss most is the PASSION he had for the guitar.

What I will always value was the opportunity I had to play with such a great player.
 Where will I ever find such a great musician who, with great PATIENCE would constantly dig me out of the mire when my efforts fell apart?

I will miss his TOLERANCE of my many mistakes and his DIPLOMACY in dealing with these.
 Gentle remarks such as “ quite interesting Dave but not quite what I wrote”
I will remember how he managed, with good humour, to endure the glitches that constantly seemed to creep into my playing.
  We even had pieces that were defined by these glitches…. such as “Let’s play blues number 6 in G – “Oh yes, says Al. that’s the one with glitch in bar 7”

..and for his GENEROSITY – “OK let’s keep the glitch.”

As teacher most of my working life Al  taught me about teaching –especially how vunerable you are as a pupil’.
 I will remember  the great lift he could give you  …for the way in which he subtly signaled that you were doing OK
I will cherish the times when  I was  playing better than normal to the extent that Al would head off into greater and greater improvisation.
 These were times when I felt honoured to be making music with Al  sharing his great ENTHUSIASM for making music.

I will remember Al’s MODESTY and HUMILITY.
For how often he said that he  must practice more!!
Such a PERFECTIONIST – not on the same planet as us mere mortals of the guitar.
  There was a point when Al was taking steroids as part of his treatment. “ I’m getting up really early and getting in a couple of hours of practice….. you should take some Dave!!
 -  never could work out whether that was a sense of humour or genuine advice.

I will miss Al as a FRIEND –

I will miss all the time we spent together working on the website.
 I barely remember Al’s initial resistance to technology.

 Typically his enthusiasm soon kicked in and we spent very many happy hours finding ways to spread his skills and ideas on teaching to a wider audience.

I will miss our many “DISCUSSIONS” on a huge range of topics;

 on politics of the both large and small “p” variety, on the nature of art, the commercial world of music and much much more.

Although we shared   little common ground on politics often we came to the “beg to differ” view - not as a full stop to discussions just an unsaid way of maintaining friendship and a desire to talk again.

 I will miss you Al as a sparring partner.

I will remember your DETERMINATION and BRAVERY. As but one example, the business of walking.
 When you came home from hospital  - sleeping downstairs, getting around, first in a wheelchair, then on a frame, then on sticks and managing to get up the stairs. Just moving around the house then walking round the garden. I remember Al’s words “ it’s OK … it’s only practice – I’m good at practice it’s what I do”

It was painful to watch Al struggling on against the odds at the end. I did not want him to suffer in this way. Selfishly I will miss him. Wherever will I find a such a great teacher and friend as Al?

"My wife bought me a guitar as a joke one Christmas. Alan gave me the confidence to pick up the guitar and not be frightened of it. I can now play a few Tunes. I had fun.

Thank you Alan. I shall miss you. Tuesday nights will never be the same again.

Trevor Brewer"

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Alan, it was a pleasure and a privilege to be your student. Each lesson proved to be a mutual exchange of musical ideas, broadening my appreciation of music to include alternative styles and perspectives.

Always thoughtful and perceptive, I was continually intrigued by the scientific questions you would test me with. Amongst these moments of discussion would be many more of levity. Sadly, it is sometimes forgotten that the study of music should be a pleasurable pursuit. Your lessons, Alan, were entertaining and rewarding in equal measure, the mark of an excellent teacher.

Thank you for your patience, understanding, and wisdom. You will be greatly missed but I am glad of the many memories I will now cherish.

Kaf Tay

I first met Alan around 1992. I had been stuck in a musical rut for a long while, bound by limited experience and a few pentatonic shapes. Alan soon had me playing much more creatively, and his teaching opened up a whole new musical world, allowing me to express myself with some beautiful voicing's. I never forgot those early lessons, or the way i felt so at ease and encouraged by him. Those initial studies lasted around a year; I had learnt much from the Master. I was delighted to study once again with Al, some five years on, for a further 18 months, developing further from where we had left off. I was able to make swift progress, as i had always practiced those early teachings. Many times i saw Alan play, both solo performance and with various bands and styles. He always made it look so easy, and seemed to be having great fun; i was always in awe, and had much respect, for i knew through my own efforts, this was no easy feat. I studied with Alan once again five years ago, for a further period of two years, moving onto some serious Jazz studies, modes etc. I so wanted to continue, but had a difficult time with the loss of my father. Over the many years Alan had become more than my master, he was a friend. I so looked forward to seeing him, we would often have great discussions on all manner of topics, his warmth, humility, knowledge and interest of all things, made him great person to be around. The day of Alan’s Passing, which was unknown to me at that time, he was in my thoughts. I had picked up an acoustic guitar at home, thinking of a song Al had once mentioned, it was California Dreaming, i didn't know the chords, but knew the song. I played it like i had been playing it all my life, so much so i astounded myself. A few days followed, and i heard the sad news from Rob. Somehow, i felt he had reached out to me, giving me more encouragement. The many times he astounded me with his brilliance of craft, so much so i would lose my way, while reading the rhythm chart, always makes me smile. I was fortunate to purchase Al’s Gibson 175 from him a few years back. I hope I can do it justice, i know I shall treasure it all my days.

Thank you so much Alan, it was an honour and a privilege to have known you. God Bless.

John Beal

I just stumbled onto Alan's site and was so saddened to see Alan has passed away, actually I'm gutted.

Alan taught be from 1996 - 2000 starting when I was 12!!! Im now a pro guitarist myself and often thought about Alan and thinking I should sort out a lesson again with him just to see him again.

I"m so sorry again, he really was a lovely guy.

Mike Bradley

From Tom Mapleson..........

"Alan taught me and my father over the last 3 years. Always welcoming, friendly, chatty and intelligent. He is much missed.

I had lessons with Alan twice a week between 1980 and 1985, and always left his home with my batteries -- musical and spiritual -- fully recharged. His lessons weren’t just good, they were inspiring, on every level. He was my teacher, my mentor, my friend, my foundation.

My older brother, Neil, was also his pupil. We were both absolutely gutted to hear that he has passed away.

Thank you and God bless you, Alan.

Mark Raishbrook