AN inspirational music teacher and musician from Kendal has died aged 66, following a lengthy illness.

Tributes have been paid to Lesley Mary Talbot, who died peacefully at home in Kendal on November 29.

She is best known for her unstinting service to Queen Katherine School where she taught thousands of pupils as its head of music.

Facebook pages have flooded with tributes and there was a large attendance at Stricklandgate MethodistChurch in Kendal on Monday for her service.

Born at Helme Chase on November 2 1948, to parents Joyce and Harry Bateson, she met Robert Talbot in 1971, marrying him in 1981.

The couple went on to have two children, Anna becoming an accomplished singer and Chris the drummer in acclaimed Kendal band Wild Beasts.

Mrs Talbot attended Kendal High School between 1960-67 and achieved the highest mark in the country when taking her Grade 8 Piano exam, as well as the Associated Board gold medal.

She competed successfully both in solo and ensemble categories at the annual Mary Wakefield Festival several times and studied at London's acclaimed Royal College of Music (RCM).

She studied piano and oboe and also harmony and composition, graduating from the Royal College in 1970 with the Ellen Marie Curtis prize for Mozart sonatas.

Between 1971-72, she taught music for one year at the Lakes School, Troutbeck Bridge, and then became head of music at Longlands Girls School 1972-80.

It amalgamated with Longlands Boys school in 1980 to become The Queen Katherine School where she taught as head of music until 2006.

Many of her students went on to study music at higher education and enjoy music careers.

One former pupil, James Murphy is now managing director of Southbank Sinfonia; an orchestra comprising some of the world's most promising young players.

Mr Murphy, who was taught by Mrs Talbot between 1986-1993, said: "I would not, without question, be working in music today if it wasn't for the inspiration and passion of Lesley Talbot. I have met many music teachers nationwide, and can say with true certainty that Lesley was second to none.

"She was a musical champion, known, respected and loved by tens of thousands of people for her trademark energy, zeal, enthusiasm, wit and joy that she brought to making Kendal a resoundingly musical and creative community."

Along with the support of husband Robert, she meticulously planned and programmed the annual QKS Christmas concerts and Leavers concerts, which became highlights for students.

Outside of the classroom, she played oboe for Lakeland Sinfonia from the early '70s until the turn of the Millennium.

She also conducted Staveley Choral Society from mid 70s - early 1980s for 10 Years, leading the choir tosuccess at the Mary Wakefield Festival and to performing well received concerts.

She was also chorus master for the Mary Wakefield Festival from early '80s for three or four festivals and was on its organising committee, said her family.

Cumbrian Soprano Rachel Little, artistic director of Amabile Choirs, said Lesley 'had a knack for coaxing extraordinary performances out of ordinary school students'.

"How many other comprehensive school choirs and orchestras do you know who perform large scale oratorio works by Monteverdi, Faure', Mozart, Handel, Bach, Haydn, Vivaldi?," she said.

Any donations should be made c/o Hayes & Parkinson to the following charities: Cancer Care; Marie Curie; Macmillan and St John’s Hospice Lancaster.