Thank you for the music: Tributes to composer, performer and mentor Nigel Brooks

Tributes have poured in for talented professional singer, performer, composer and mentor to hundreds of young stars, Nigel Brooks BEM, who passed away this month at the age of 97.

North Devon born and bred, Nigel may be best remembered in his later years for inspiring and teaching countless young people in Barnstaple and beyond the joys of singing, acting and performing – with many going on to have professional careers.

Many will remember his Young Stars of the Future showcases held at the Queen’s Theatre in Barnstaple, as well as a host of local singing groups established by him including Nigel Brooks Juniors, Cantora, Bella Voce and Panache.

He passed away peacefully at his home in Barnstaple with his partner Carole Skinner and loved ones by his side. His funeral will be at North Devon Crematorium tomorrow (Thursday) at 1.40pm.

Above: Nigel Brooks with some of his Young Stars of the Future

Nigel Brooks was far, far more than a local music and drama teacher – he carved out a career as a professional singer, becoming a much sought after performer and a composer of music too.

He was a member of the successful 1950s pop group The Stargazers, became a member of the BBC Singers, went on to conduct the BBC Concert Orchestra and also founded the successful Nigel Brooks Singers.

Above: Nigel receiving his British Empire Medal (BEM) at Barnstaple Guildhall

Paying tribute to Nigel, his partner of more than 20 years, Carole, said: “He brought high standards of music performance to North Devon and shared his skills with hundreds of local children. I miss him and all the musical adventures we shared together.”

Well-known local community champion Frances Bell said: “Nigel and I were great friends and he was a mentor to me for many years when I was teaching music and leading Barnstaple Community Choir.

“I am a trustee of Nigel’s music and helping to curate his ‘works’ for a collection at North Devon Records Office. I miss him each day.”

Nigel James Brooks was born on Christmas Eve, 1926 in Barnstaple. The first born of Janie Brooks and grandson to Charlie and Annie Brooks. Annie, known as Mother Brooks, was a formidable character and made sure that Nigel stayed on the ‘straight and narrow’.

She organised his attendance at music lessons which included piano and singing in Ilfracombe, paid for by members of the family. He became a boy soprano and sang in Ilfracombe’s bandstand to entertain holidaymakers.

He left school aged 12 and worked as an errand boy, starting work as a solicitor’s clerk in Ilfracombe aged 15. Nigel loved learning and continued with his music activities and studies, which included languages, art and sciences.

Nigel Brooks was a much sought after performer

When World War Two broke out, he worked backstage in Ilfracombe at the Pannier Market when it became a Saturday night dance hall for American GIs, who were stationed across North Devon training for D-Day.

He helped out, setting up lights and putting up bunting. He was a cheeky chap and would ‘cut in’ and dance with any young ladies he could – despite being under 18 and by rights shouldn’t even have been there!

War came closer than Nigel would have liked – he joined the army at age 17 and trained in various parts of the country. While billeted in a hotel at Skegness, a German fighter flew by and shot up the front of the hotels, giving him a very narrow escape. He later wrote a piece of music called Fly Past to commemorate the incident.

After the war, he was accepted to study music at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, in London and soon after he started working at Glyndebourne as an opera singer.

Above: Working at Glyndebourne as an opera singer

Around this time too, aged 21, he met his wife Jean. They were married for more than 50 years and lived and worked together in the music industry.

Nigel’s career skyrocketed and he sang for a living at professional shows and concerts around the country, becoming a sought after performer with an excellent reputation.

He also began to compose his own music and used every spare opportunity to write melodies, by hand, onto manuscript paper. His tiny precise writings, with a soft pencil can still be found all over his house.

He became a member of the BBC Singers, leading to him conducting them and the BBC Concert Orchestra and he led the BBC Concert Orchestra as conductor at the Albert Hall during Proms.

With The Stargazers he performed at the Royal Variety Performance  and more shows before royalty followed.

He composed and conducted the BBC Concert Orchestra for Friday Night is Music Night – and appeared on TV alongside Lulu and Basil Brush too!

Nigel was a long-standing friend and colleague of Harry Secombe and worked with Val Doonican, Tom Jones and Jess Yates, to name a few.

Above: Filming Songs of Praise in Barnstaple with Harry Secombe

His busy career continued and he became the Musical Director of Southern TV, followed by forming the Nigel Brooks Singers, which earned him one gold and two silver discs for album sales.

Being a local lad, Nigel was commissioned to compose a piece of music for the opening of the Landmark Theatre in Ilfracombe. Played by the Bournemouth Symphony orchestra, Seven Cameos for Combe is a dramatic and beautiful suite based on Nigel’s childhood memories of growing up in the town.

Above: One of the many Nigel Brooks Singers albums, which went gold and silver

As he approached the age of 60, a singer called Mary Hammond of the Nigel Brooks Singers asked if he was interested in working with young people at a dance school in Epsom run by Betty Laine.

Of course he took the job, soon became Director of Music and today Laine Theatre Arts is a prestigious college and responsible for supplying the West End with the best performers anywhere in the world.

Nic Greenshields, who played Phantom in the West End, recalled: “I owe my career to Mr Brooks. He turned what was a small dance school into a multi-million-pound business by teaching us all how to sing and behave in an exemplary manner, whilst being a professional performer.”

“I was 18 and working as a brickie’s mate on a building site in East London. I attended a few classes at Laines and Nigel took me under his wing. He taught me to sing, including opera and musical theatre styles.

“Without Mr Brooks, I would still be on a building site. Now I am entertaining the world.”

Above: Nigel Brooks with Nic Greenshields and a fellow West End performer

Several big name musical theatre stars owe much to Nigel’s teachings, including Kerry Ellis, Louise Dearman and Liam Tamne.

About this time, Nigel’s beloved wife Jean died and although he was devastated at her loss, working at Laine Theatre Arts and his spiritual beliefs, helped him through.

Coming into his life after a loss in her own life, Carole and Nigel became friends and then life partners.

He had begun spending more time back in North Devon, while working part time at Laines. In Barnstaple, he set up The Festival of Choirs and began to take local youngsters for singing lessons, quickly establishing the groups such as Nigel Brooks Juniors, Bella Voice, Cantora and Panache.

These groups did well and Nigel taught them free of charge, giving his time and energy. The Young Stars of the Future shows began at the Queens and for each summer Nigel invited students from Laines to come and perform for and alongside local children. This directly influenced them and demonstrated the high standards required to ‘make it to the top’.

He was also president of Barnstaple Ladies Choir and they will be performing the world premiere of his composition written for them to mark their 40th Anniversary Concert at the Queen’s Theatre on Sunday, April 7.

Nigel received a British Empire Medal for his services to the music industry in 2022. His career spanned seven decades and he lived a full life for 97 years.

His funeral will be live-streamed on Thursday at 1.40pm. Contact WS Gayton via www.wsgayton.co.uk or call on 01271 342196 for the link details.

*** Several pictures courtesy of the Nigel Brooks estate