Wallace Ross

Derby | Died in 2010

Wallace Ross, who led hundreds of musicians and singers in the city for more than 40 years, died on January 20, aged 89.

He moved to Derby in 1958 to become Master of Music at the cathedral and also taught music, Latin, Greek and history at the former Sturgess School, in Markeaton Street.

Wallace, who lived in Park Grove, off Kedleston Road, until he fell ill four years ago, was Master of Music at Derby Cathedral from 1958 until 1982.

He formed the Derby Bach Choir, the Derby Cathedral Orchestra, which was later renamed the Derby Symphonic Orchestra, and the Cathedral Brass Ensemble.

He used to take the cathedral choir to Cadeby in Leicestershire every year where they would sing carols around the village.

Wallace's other main passion was steam engines and he used to see a friend who had a narrow gauge steam railway. He was also a fan of rugby and real ale.

Russ Hamer, a former pupil of Wallace's, contacted the Derby Telegraph after hearing of his teacher's death.

He said: "There will, without a shadow of a doubt, not be another quite like him.

"He was one of the most influential people in my life and I wish I had taken the time to seek him out and vocalise this while he lived."

For the last four years of his life, Wallace lived at Kilburn Nursing Home after suffering a fall near his Derby home.

Your Memories

I remember Mr Ross really well. A great teacher and disciplinarian, i remember receiving the slipper many times for my wrong doings, it had a small hole in the sole and when he brought it down on your back side it would whistle as the air passed through, Mr Ross used to call the slipper Sam. He was very ecentric and during morning assembly he would sit on the stage and make hand movements like he was pulling the whistle cord on a steam train and then you could hear him whistle, very funny to us young lads. He was also our Rugby teacher and woe betide anyone that messed around. He had nicknames for all his pupils. What a great character i thought he had died years ago i remember him with great affection R I P Wally Ross
Mark Derby Mark Dawson — 02.02.2010

Mr Ross was my form teacher during my time at Stugess,Brilliant musician and teacher.
It couldn't of been an easy job trying to get grotty teenage boys to apreciate classical and choral music,especially when we had Slade,T REX,Bowie etc going round in our heads,But he never gave up.He had a wicked sense of humour,He would take us for Rugby practice and cross country runs on Markeaton Park and if you came off the field clean he would say that you werent trying hard enough,then make sure that you ended up dirty by telling your class mates how clean your kit looked.
I remember he gave everyone nicknames,mine was Wee Broon,because I was one of the smaller members of the class and there was more than one Brown in the school.
Thank you for making my senior school years so enjoyable.
Rest in Peace Sir.
Dave Brown (Form R1 1971 to 1975) Dave Brown — 02.02.2010

I first met Wallace in 1958 as an 11 year old. He was my form teacher for my first year at Sturgess. I got on with him well, being blessed (in those days) with a good voice and enjoying singing, I was soon in the school choir. Also, being well built, he put me at prop forward position in one of the rugby teams. "That's where we need the weight" he used to say, with a twinkle in his eye. The highlight of the choir's year, for me, was the Christmas carol service at the cathedral. Wallace, or "Hotspur" as we called him, was of course in his element on the organ. The sound was incredible, when we got to the verse in "Unto us a boy is born" where we sang Alpha and Omega he, let the organ thunder. Wallace had all the stops out, it certainly did thunder, and we had to sing with great gusto to be heard. He used to look across to the choir with a wicked grin at that point. It seems many years since we last shared a pint in the Dolphin. A great influence in my early life. Happy memories. Geoff. Collins Geoff Collins — 02.02.2010

This tribute was published on 02.02.2010