Have your say: letters to the editor, March 2023

I was so sorry to hear of the passing of Atarah Ben-Tovim MBE, the flautist and inspirational educator.

Alan Stringer (1928–2012), one of my mentors, was principal trumpet of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (RLPO) from 1953 to 1993 (save for 1960–61, when he played as principal with the LSO). This is how I came to know the RLPO first hand, and the calibre of this Liverpool band that included Atarah as principal flute.

Atarah Ben-Tovim was not so much an 'off-beat flautist' as The Times register has it, but rather a kaftan-wearing enthusiast with a remarkable gift for communicating with generations of primary-school children of all nationalities, including disabled pupils. The vehicle for this was a seven-piece band she struck up in 1975. Those taking part had colourful scores in large print, overflowing with border prints and editorial cartoons.