Shropshire music lover's legacy to live on for years
A Shropshire woman who devoted her life to music will have her legacy live on for years to come.
Diana Whittard was a committed piano and flute teacher who, according to the executor of her will, taught half of the town how to play.
She died in February after suffering from cancer but, determined to help out the talented musicians, left thousands of pounds to local orchestras.
Diana, was a popular figure and an indefatigable Francophile and after receiving her MA from Exeter University, for many years taught French at Moreton Hall and Wrekin College.
She travelled to France innumerable times with her late husband, Paul, where they never tired of the history, art, culture and food.
But it was music that was her true love and she was a member of the Ludlow Orchestra, where she served as principal flute and of the Shrewsbury Symphony, the Shrewsbury Light and the Meole Brace orchestras, where she played violin.
Peter Gould, executor of her will, knew her well and said she was a down to earth woman who ‘took no messing’.
On her death she left £15,000 to the Meole Orchestra, and £10,000 to each of the Ludlow, Shrewsbury Symphony and Shrewsbury Light Orchestras.
She also left money to a friend, who she believed only had a basic piano. But he decided to donate some of that to The Gateway in Shrewsbury where an old Steinway Grand Piano will be refurbished.
Peter said: “Diana used to organise an annual concert with her pupils and we all remember the piano. It is lovely that it will be refurbished and her memory will live on.
“She was so well known and she played for all the orchestras that she left money for. It was not a surprise for me when she told me that she wanted to do this but I know that the orchestras were surprised with the legacies. I didn’t know she was ill until she told me not to come for my regular lesson, she just said she would be starting chemotherapy.
“But that was the type of woman she was – she was just very matter of fact. I think it is lovely that she has left this money to the orchestras.”
Diana also left some money to her sister who lives in America. “She is going to use it for a bursary,” added Peter.
