Published: 17 June 2010

DAVID Lund has lost his long and courageous fight against Parkinson’s Disease after being diagnosed in 1985. 

He died on May 30 in the Royal Free Hospital following a severe attack of a form of bronchopneumonia. Due to the exemplary care given by the Magnolia Court Care Home, David maintained a stable condition for the last three years of his life, despite requiring 24-hour care. He was eating well, enjoying daily outings to the park and even benefiting from a programme of physiotherapy sessions right up to the onset of his final illness.

He spent most of his working life at University College School (1967-1995), becoming head of the English department. 

He was a fine teacher, much admired by students and colleagues alike. 

David was a very gifted jazz pianist and was active on the London jazz scene, playing many venues including the Pizza Express jazz club in Soho. 

Before joining UCS he was much involved with Cambridge Footlights and was musical director for the 1967 revue, produced by Clive James, to which he also contributed and performed comedy material. 

David was a regular at Hampstead Parish Church and a great supporter of the Friends of the Music. He was chairman of the Church’s 18-30 “Sunday Club” which featured local celebrity speakers, including Peter Cook. 

David and I enjoyed some success as writers for both radio and TV. Some of the many programmes we contributed to were I’m Sorry I’ll Read that Again, Beyond Belief, David Allen at Large, Don’t Ask Us and Battle of the Sexes.

In 1975 David held the first of his legendary Thursday jazz concerts which were to last for 25 years. He featured some of the great international names in jazz. 

All of these concerts supported individual charities and David raised thousands of pounds for good causes. In 1995 he was awarded the prestigious BBC Jazz Society award for his outstanding services to jazz.

David did not confine his presentations to jazz, he also featured a who’s who of the top names in showbusiness. Using his Footlights connections, with much help and some participation from Barry Cryer and Nicholas Parsons (a close friend), some of the stars to appear were Frankie Howerd, Maureen Lipman, Roy Castle, Rolf Harris, Ronnie Corbett, Griff Rhys Jones, Benny Green, Derek Nimmo, Hugh Lawrie and Stephen Fry. The UCS Theatre has now been named the Lund Theatre, in honour of David.

David’s funeral service was held on the June 10 in Hampstead Parish Church. Those present in a large congregation included David’s former colleagues and students at UCS, some musicians, old school and university friends, as well as the many Hampstead residents who knew David so well.  

I will miss David deeply, not only as a dear brother but also as my best friend. He will also be missed, however, by a countless number of people to whom he was such a special person. 
PETER LUND  

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