My friend, Donald Hoskins, who has died aged 88, was a gentle, much-respected man who had an enormous passion for bringing live music to local people of all ages and backgrounds. This he did with great gusto and good humour, inspiring many to share his deep love of music.
Don was born in Abertillery, south Wales, the only child of William Hoskins, a blacksmith, and Olive (nee Hagley). In later years, Don would speak passionately of his beloved home town “in the valleys”. His parents very quickly recognised and supported his considerable early musical and pianistic talents. He won many local prizes while still very young and eventually went on to gain a BMus degree at Cardiff University, following this with MA and PhD degrees.
Don’s teaching career commenced in Birmingham, during which time he conducted many choral and orchestral concerts and performed as soloist with the Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra. Following a period as a music lecturer at Eastbourne College of Education, in 1967 he joined Barking Regional College (now the University of East London) and three years later became head of its music centre, remaining in the post until retirement in 1997.
Don Hoskins’s musical and pianistic talents were recognised when he was young
In 1985, he founded the Aminta Chamber Orchestra (which evolved into a larger concert orchestra), performing at many prestigious London venues and working with world-renowned soloists. He also appeared as guest conductor with the London Mozart Players, BBC Concert Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Choir. His musical activities took him to France, Germany, Greece, Russia (where he performed at the Moscow Conservatoire) and the US (as a visiting professor).
For nearly 40 years, Don arranged and conducted charity concerts in east London. For his outstanding service to music and the local community he was awarded the freedom of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham in 2005 and made an MBE in 2007. In neighbouring Redbridge, he was president of Redbridge Music Society from 1995 onwards, distinguishing his presidency with much kindness and generosity of time.
Don married Dinah Stanton in 1972 and over the years they fulfilled their joint love of travel with visits to many areas of the world including Australasia and the US. Don is survived by Dinah, who cared for him so magnificently, especially in his final months.
