WE are sad to report that our classical columnist and reviewer Peter Palmer died this week, aged 69.
Peter, who lived in Bramcote, had been writing for the Nottingham Post for over 40 years, supplying a weekly column about his beloved classical music and regularly reviewing concerts at the Royal Concert Hall, Albert Hall and beyond.
In later years he developed a passion for alt-country and folk and had begun to review shows at The Maze, the Glee Club, Lakeside Arts Centre and Nottingham Playhouse by the likes of Blair Dunlop, Dervish, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Mindy Smith and Scott Matthews.
It was during these shows that he met EG contributor Sue Atkinson.
"Peter had a stroke 16 months ago which left him with locked-in syndrome and he was unable to move other than to blink," she says.
"This became the only way he could communicate. He was totally dependant on medical care. He was in the City and QMC hospitals, before being moved to a neurological unit in Hucknall where he remained until he died on Monday.
"Peter had an incredibly wide range of musical knowledge and interests ranging from classical through folk and Americana.
"His mother was Swiss-German, and Peter was himself a fluent speaker of German, having translated and edited a number of publications on German composers.
"He was a Cambridge graduate reading Modern Languages, before studying Stagecraft at the Zurich Opera Centre. He completed an introduction to a book on the 20th century composed Othmar Schoek, translated Bloch's Essays on the Philosophy of Music, and was the Editor of the Bruckner Journal.
"Peter had performed in and remained very keen on dramatic productions.
"He was a great champion of the Cosmic American Music gigs at The Maze and rarely missed the opportunity to review musicians there, which is where I met him.
"He was also very fond of cats and had given a home to a number of rescue cats over the years – we had many enjoyable conversations about cats and bands in the intervals between musicians at The Maze."
Nottingham Post entertainment editor Simon Wilson adds: "I remember my first encounters with Peter were at the old Post offices in Forman Street. I'd be coming in from a night at Rock City to write up a review of Oasis, Blur or the Manic Street Preachers while Peter would be tapping away at his keyboard having been to see an orchestra across the road at the Royal Concert Hall.
"He'd then drive off through those huge iron gates in his classic black VW Beatle.
"Our music tastes were worlds apart back then so our conversations were brief but he was always polite and a brilliant reviewer.
"It's shocking how his love of live music was brought to an abrupt end when he suffered a stroke.
"We miss his words."
Peter's funeral takes place at Bramcote Crematorium on Monday, January 5 at 12 noon. Donations to The Cats Protection League or Musicians Benevolent Fund are requested.