Arthur Laycock’s Grave

The aim is to repair and clean the sculptured grave of a leading recording artist of the early 20th century, Arthur Laycock, and maintain it in future.

Before the era when Jazz and Big Band music was all the rage, the traditional British Brass Band was the most popular musical combination with thousands turning out for concerts in Bandstands and Concert Halls. With the advent of gramophone recordings, Brass Band records were very popular and their leading cornet soloists became the “pop stars” of that age.

Arthur Laycock was the most prolific British cornet and trumpet soloist from his first recording in 1913 to his premature death in 1929.

Despite being ill with influenza, Arthur fulfilled a promise to a friend to play two concerts in St. Austell, Cornwall in January, 1929. He developed pneumonia and died, still in Cornwall, on 5 ^th February, 1929 and was interred in Earby Cemetery, his wife's home town. He was 41 years of age.

A splendid memorial was erected over his grave including a sculptured trumpet , sculptured music and a column broken off to signify a life cut short.

His wife was buried with him, 41 years later. They had no children.

Sadly, the monument has suffered neglect and now needs repair, is discoloured and looks as it is made of stone. However, enquiries have revealed that repairs can be effected and the white Italian marble can be cleaned to “as new” condition.

We are fundraising to pay for the repairs and cleaning and any money left over will be used to maintain the monument in the future.

Completion of refurbishment should be possible within three months of raising the funds.