JOHN TUNNELL O.B.E. 1936 - 1988

Death comes to us all. But somehow the death of someone very young or exceptionally talented at the height of their career is a more bitter pill to swallow; especially so when that person had qualities far beyond the average in human and professional relationships. John Tunnell died last September, after a short illness, at the age of 52.

John was born in Stockton - on - Tees and spent most of his early life in the West Yorkshire town of Guiseley. He attended Bradford Grammar School and started violin lessons that led to further study at the Royal Academy of Music in London and a scholarship year in Vienna.

After many years as leader of various Chamber Music groups, the establishment of the Tunnell Trio with his sister, Susan (piano), and brother, Charles(cello), and a long association with the English Chamber Orchestra, he was invited in 1974 to come to Scotland to lead the newly formed Scottish Chamber Orcestra. Under his leadership the Orchestra gradually established its position as one of the finest in the world, travelling to countries as far apart as Japan, USA and Finland. It also broke new ground by taking the chamber orchestra music to the Highlands and Islands with tours by boat and train to remote venues. In all these activities John was a guiding spirit and his contribution to the growth and appreciation of classical music in Scotland was enormous. It was with his appointment as leader of the S.C.O. that John and Wendy, decided to put roots down in Scotland and settled with their family. Jonathan, Phillippa and William - all talented musicians - in a beautiful, but remote, location in between Edinburgh and Glasgow. This was the perfect base for John's hobbies of gardening, walking in the hills, climbing, skiing. sailing, and annual holidays with the family on his beloved Isle of Coll.

John first came to the island as a young lad on a family holiday. Mr and Mrs. Tunnell Senior had answered an advertisement in the Yorkshire Post for a caravan to let. It was sited at the Cornaig march gate and belonged to a Dr. Gourlay, former doctor on the island, with Yorkshire connections. Mary MacRae, caretaker of the caravan, well remembers, with four year old Hamish in tow, that first meeting with the travel weary Tunnell family. Transport by road and sea was a lengthier process in those days.

Throughout 40 odd years of association, whilst establishing and developing a very successful career, the Isle of Coll was always the source of rest, respite and regeneration for John before return to the exigiences of a very exacting profession. He greatly appreciated what the island is so very good at providing - a retreat from the rigours of a combative professional world without any of the sycophancy so inevitable in careers that become public.

Some of us would worry when those hands, insured for thousands of pounds, chopped driftwood for the fire, pulled up creels and, most frightening of all, tied up lobster claws or unhooked conger eels.

The East End landscape, especially, will be bereft of that tall, courteous figure this summer. The island was priveleged to know the man as well as the musician. He always felt very priveleged to know the islanders. As a lasting memorial to his life and work, Wendy and his family and his closest friends have formed the John Tunnell Trust. This Trust will be for the funding benefit of young chamber group musicians who are starting out on their professional careers. It is something of which John would have approved.