Gordon Meadows at the piano LOCAL musician Gordon Meadows has died at the age of 86. Mr Meadows, of Newton Road, Rushden, was born in the town in 1916 and died on April 25 at Cransley Hospice, Kettering. After leaving Rushden Intermediate School he went to work in the shoe industry but it was not long before his passion for music came to the surface. In 1935 he became a semi-professional pianist and played in a number of popular groups including The Accordion Serenaders, the Ted Smith Trio, Leon and his Music, Vic Riches and his Orchestra and The Stardusters. He then formed his own orchestra, the Modernaires, with Bunny Rogers and later the Gordon Meadows Band. His only son, Anthony, a semi-professional organist, said: "He also had his own quartet but spent his final musical years as a solo keyboard player." The funeral will be held at St Mary's Church, Rushden, at 11am on May 7.