David was born in 1975 in Glasgow, and his family moved to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis when he was three. He grew up there with his younger brother Alasdair. Singing and music were always a big part of his life: he started piano lessons in primary school and enjoyed singing but was too shy to sing solo in front of his classmates! He went away to study Computer Science at the University of Strathclyde.  He was a proud Scot and “Leodhasach”, often to be seen wearing a tartan tie (or a kilt on special occasions).

David moved to Leeds to work initially for the DWP but then moved into work as a data manager in the NHS. He took singing lessons and got involved in several groups in the city, as his fine 2nd bass voice was much in demand. He joined LGS in the late 2000s and served on the committee, including a stint as our Treasurer.

David was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus in 2012. He went through drastic surgery and chemotherapeutic treatment and was in remission and back to singing, but in 2019 the cancer returned in the form of a secondary brain tumour.

In January 2020, as he was in and out of hospital for cancer treatment, David discovered the Kings Singers’ new recording of Sir James MacMillan’s arrangement of the Scottish folksong “O, chì, chì mi na mòrbheanna”. He shared the YouTube video with his friends and commented that he had known of the song since he was in primary school.

Despite further surgery, chemotherapy and the care of the NHS staff at St James’s Hospital in Leeds, he passed away in March 2020, spending his last days in the company of only a few close family and friends, due to Covid 19 restrictions.

David’s interests and activities stretched far beyond choral singing – from his strong Christian faith to political campaigning (Remain) and Scottish football (Rangers) or just putting the world to rights over a few drinks in the pub. His quiet wisdom and dry sense of humour were appreciated by his many friends and missed by us all.

Written by Sara Caine and David Bowman, 2024