Rosalind Snaith (1943 – 2020)
by David & Irene Bell
B&F September 2020
Rosalind started piano lessons at 10 years old – and so began a lifelong love affair with music. An accomplished musician blessed with perfect pitch, she was a great help to her brother, David Bell, as they began The Lyne Valley Dance Band in 1959. Two years later she left to enter a career as a nurse and midwife. Marriage and a family took up the intervening years, but the piano continued to be part of her life at socials and among friends, and she was a regular church organist. She also taught herself the accordion but never took it up seriously.
Returning to the music scene in the 1980s, she played with the roger Dobson Band for a short time before returning to become permanent pianist for The Lyne Valley Band. Travelling with the band she made many, many friends and attended Box and fiddle and other Festivals – but playing at the Shetland Music Festival in 2003 was very special. Rosalind was spellbound while experiencing the range of music and players and – braving the dreaded crossing – returned again and again as a spectator.
Rosalind was in great demand as a backing player, being able to fit in with both the talented and the learner, and was also resident pianist at the Gretna Accordion & Fiddle Club.
When she was not playing, she was a talented needlewoman, and she enjoyed dancing and meeting up with her many, many friends.
Rosalind suffered a short illness and died peacefully at home, with her partner Norman Little and daughters Fiona and Marie at her side on 27th July 2020.
Returning to the music scene in the 1980s, she played with the roger Dobson Band for a short time before returning to become permanent pianist for The Lyne Valley Band. Travelling with the band she made many, many friends and attended Box and fiddle and other Festivals – but playing at the Shetland Music Festival in 2003 was very special. Rosalind was spellbound while experiencing the range of music and players and – braving the dreaded crossing – returned again and again as a spectator.
Rosalind was in great demand as a backing player, being able to fit in with both the talented and the learner, and was also resident pianist at the Gretna Accordion & Fiddle Club.
When she was not playing, she was a talented needlewoman, and she enjoyed dancing and meeting up with her many, many friends.
Rosalind suffered a short illness and died peacefully at home, with her partner Norman Little and daughters Fiona and Marie at her side on 27th July 2020.