Clive Faulder, teacher and musician, died peacefully, at the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, in his 87th year.
The only son of Eleanor (nee Armstrong) and William Faulder, Clive was born on 14th March, 1934.
His father was a policeman and so Clive’s early life was spent moving regularly — to Appleby, Kendal and, finally, aged 12, to Wordsworth Street, Penrith.
From May, 1941, until August, 1942, Clive was a patient at the Ethel Hedly Orthopaedic Hospital for Children at Calgarth Hall, Windermere.
He was in traction, on his back for almost the whole period of his stay.
Many years later, he wrote a lengthy account of his experience, which clearly marked him, not positively, for life. Soon after being discharged, he began his study of the piano.
After his early education at Kendal, he attended Heversham Grammar School as a “day boy”.
In 1947, when his father became Inspector in Penrith, Clive transferred to Queen Elizabeth Grammar School.
Upon leaving school, in 1951, he joined the Liverpool, London, and Globe Insurance Company, Carlisle — an occupation for which he could easily control his enthusiasm.
So much so, that he would often absent himself to hitch hike and “escape into the wilds of Scotland”!
Realising that he wanted a career in music, and with the full encouragement of his employers, he applied to St John’s College, York, to train as a music teacher.
Clive’s first teaching position, in 1957, was at Lazonby School, where his father had been a pupil.
For two years he rode a motorised bicycle, in all weathers, to and from his home, which was by then on Hunter Lane.
This was the beginning of a relationship with the village of Lazonby which was to last for the rest of his life.
After two years there, he was awarded a scholarship to study the organ for a year at University College, Oxford.
His next position was at High Hesket, followed by several years teaching in Penrith.
His final role in education, and in many ways his happiest, was as headteacher at Bolton Low Houses School, from which he retired in 1991.
He described his school as “heaven”! Just 45 children and three adults, in a field, surrounded by sheep, cows, and dogs.
Well known as a musician, Clive started his professional career playing with a big band, the Rhythm Aces, based in Shap.
He then played in the pubs and clubs of York, as a student, paying his way through college. Later, he was to became the percussionist for the Frank Walton Band, travelling all over the south of Scotland and north of England.
The “fixed gig” of the group, however, was the Saturday night dance at the Penrith Drill Hall, to which he referred as “Lights and Fights”.
Late nights on Saturdays — as well as Thursday and Friday — were followed by early Sunday mornings at church to play the organ.
Clive regularly played at St Andrew’s, Christ Church, and, particulary, at Lowther Street Presbyterian, until he was invited to become the organist at Lazonby Church, where he was to play for 38 years.
Not satisfied with these commitments, he was also to be found playing in the pit orchestras of Penrith Players, Keswick Theatre, and Workington Theatre.
Most Christmas and New Year holidays saw him playing piano jazz for area hotels and pubs, as well as The Salvation Army, and also, year-round, for weddings, anniversaries, annual dinners and other special functions.
His operating social principle was “if a pub has a piano I will play it”!
Clive still found time to volunteer with the Cumberland Choral Choir and the Rural Choirs, as conductor or pianist.
A great love of his was to play a side drum with the Penrith Town Band, in which he was a regular fixture for many decades.
It was something he had enjoyed since learning to play with the Air Training Corps Band as a teenager.
When walking around any town or village in Cumbria, he would be greeted by someone whom he had taught, had played for, or they had danced to, somewhere, sometime.
Clive’s last years were punctuated by severe illness.
For the last two years of his life, he was a resident of Cold Springs care home, where he was looked after by a caring, patient, and understanding staff.
Clive is to be buried in Lazonby churchyard, where his grandparents rest.
His gravestone will note his service as village organist.
His impact as a teacher is marked by the success and happiness of his former pupils.
