Hello Dave & Fellow Listers, This is the reply that I have received from Special collection library regarding SOUTHAMPTON MUSICIANS. I am very pleased with their reply and will be thanking them for their time and trouble. Bye for now, Syd Hockey. (Southampton) Dear Mr Hockey We have checked our files and indexes for information about John James Read and other Southampton Musicians, but unfortunately there does not appear to have been a great deal of research in this field. We have found death notices for John James Read in both local newspapers on Saturday 21st March 1857. The Hampshire Independent's reads: "READ.- March 20, in the 20th year of his age, Mr John Read leader of the band at the Theatre Royal, Southampton, whose premature death will be long and deeply felt by his numerous friends, both private and professional." The Hampshire Advertiser has: "Yesterday (Friday) after a few days' illness, Mr John James Read, leader of the Orchestra at the Southampton Theatre, aged 20 years. The deceased was a promising musician, and bid fair to have pbtained a prominent position in his profession." The Hampshire Independent had reports, on the 21st and 28th, of performances at the Theatre Royal: on Wednesday 18th March there had been a performance of Hamlet with Mr Cathcart in the title role. The following week "a graceful and elegant danseuse from the London theatres, Mademoiselle Mazoni" had been "nightly received with rapturous applause." The season closed on the Monday 30 March, with a benefit for the lessee, Miss Mills, who was retiring from the stage, having suffered a loss of £200 on the season. Her father hoped to do better the following year. In all this detail there is no reference to the sudden death of Mr Read. The Theatre Royal was in French Street, and Cushen's Court opened off the West side of French Street, so John would have been living close to his work. You can see a picture of the Theatre, with a brief history, on PortCities Southampton at http://www.plimsoll.org/resources/SCCLibraries/1607.asp . We hope this is of help Yours Vicky Green Special Collections Library Southampton Reference Library Civic Centre Southampton SO14 7LW Tel 023 8083 2205