” Les was such a talented man, and among other huge contributions, he kept the club alive and indeed thriving through the pandemic lockdown by initiating online meetings in which he gave presentations covering guitar making, music notation software, the evolution of guitar design over the instrument’s history and music composed for and played on older guitars, and guitar-themed quizzes. I always enjoyed his conducting of the ensemble, and playing in his wide selection of well arranged music, which must have taken him ages to prepare, ranging from complex renaissance vocal music to film themes, via classical, latin and jazz pieces. He was generous to the club in so many ways and will be very much missed “
David Bruce – MK Guitar Society Chairman
Les astounded me with his knowledge in so many areas. He was a fantastic chairman, arranger, director and guitar maker. It was a great honor to share the directorship with Les at the club and I enjoyed the chats we had on so many subjects.
His unselfish contribution to the Milton Keynes society kept us alive, especially over lockdown.
Les made everyone welcome and was a very good friend of all.
I am incredibly saddened by his passing and will really miss him.
David Merrin
2 thoughts on “Lester Backshall Tribute”
Les’s contribution, conducting and providing arrangements, also kept the Oxford Guitar Society alive and helped it grow. He was a talented and good-humoured conductor for both Milton Keynes and Oxford societies. He also enjoyed playing in smaller ensembles – duets, trios and quartets. He took up lutherie in retirement and he immediately showed talent in making guitars. I borrowed the third one he made and immediately fell in love with it so, even though I hadn’t been planning to buy another guitar, I just had to have it. We have sadly lost a good friend.
I got to know Les shortly after founding the Oxford Guitar Society in Oct 2011 when he came to one of our early meetings in 2012 when we still met in the Music Faculty. Since that time he became an extremely good friend. His input into the society was immense, both as a provider and arranger of music and as a conductor. He was an excellent conductor, something he did with good humour and tolerance but always trying to extract the best from the ensemble. For several years, up to the pandemic, we played in a quartet and then a trio. We woud argue about politics and disagreed on many topics but Les had a very sharp mind and martialled his arguments very persuasively. Post pandemic, problems with his right hand limited his playing but this seemed to only increase his enthusiasm for arranging and conducting. He was a fine luthier – and a generous one as when I was without my guitar for a couple of months due to repairs he unhesitatingly lent me one of his – a very fine instrument indeed.
OGS will miss Les’s input very much indeed but I will miss him immensely as a friend. He was one of the good guys.