Obituary: Colin Clayton QSM

For a quarter of a century Rotorua's Colin Clayton played The Last Post at the city's Anzac Day service - now he will be farewelled to the sound of music.

Mr Clayton died at his home at Glenbrae Estate on Sunday following a short illness. He was 82.

Born in the village of Longridge in Lancashire in 1930, Mr Clayton was one of a long line of musicians in his family and was awarded a Queen's Service Medal for his services to music.

His daughter Suzanne Davis said he loved fishing, golf and football, but his passion was music, in particular brass bands.

"He was addicted [to music], but also respected for his ability, knowledge and commitment," Mrs Davis said.

His father Elgar bought his family to Invercargill from England in 1950 and they moved to Rotorua in 1969 when the Rotorua Brass Band was a struggling D-grade outfit.

His son Stephen said as musical directors and conductors his father and grandfather turned the band around, taking them to the top of the A-grade ranks, keeping them there for 25 years.

"There'll be musicians from all over New Zealand at the service ... we also got a message from the New Zealand Army Band who are in Edinburgh for the Tattoo, and from musicians all over the world," he said.

"As dad was struggling over the weekend I went back home to band practice, which is what he wanted me to do.

"The band played and he listened down the phone and was very restful and acknowledged what he was hearing," he said.

Mr Clayton particularly enjoyed the music of Eric Ball and Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture.

He is survived by wife Isobel and children Suzanne, Linda, Paula, Stephen and Elgar.

He had 13 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

His funeral will be at Osborne's Funeral Home Chapel on Old Taupo Rd from 1pm today.