I wonder if any of your readers will have noted the recent death of Frank Shipway.

His associations with Waltham Forest ended some time ago, but in the 1970s and 1980s he was one of the major personalities in the borough, building the Forest Philharmonic into one of the best orchestras of its kind in Britain.

We enjoyed some fine concerts, with top soloists like Pierre Fournier and Julius Katchen at the Assembly Hall, where his good work has been continued by Brian Shanahan.

He never really reached the fame his abilities perhaps deserved, but a recording he made with the Sao Paulo Symphony Orchestra was shortlisted in the BBC Music Awards this year.

AJD Edwards, Chigwell Road, Woodford Green.