My uncle, Jeremy Walker, who has died aged 67 of cancer, dedicated his life to inspiring young musicians and performers. As director of music at Westminster Under school in London and later as the transformative CEO and artistic director of the National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT), Jeremy had a profound impact on music education and youth theatre in Britain.
Born in Bolton, the son of Kenneth Walker, a sales engineer, and Margaret (nee Lever), a singer, Jeremy grew up in Blackpool, where his love of music was inspired by his mother, and nurtured at Holy Trinity church. After attending Arnold school in Blackpool, he trained to be a teacher at Balls Park College in Hertford before starting his career at Lockers Park school in Hemel Hempstead.
