Roy William Kaighin
Roy died December 2nd, 2016 after suffering at length with Parkinson’s Disease.
He leaves behind his wife of 26 years Diane, and a daughter Sharron Welsh (Graham) from Scotland and two grandsons Joshua & Sean.
Roy was born in England July 15, 1951 and raised by Annie and William Kaighin of the IOM. By the age of 5 he played the piano and violin, by 9 he was playing the trombone and trumpet and at the age of 16 he became a professional musician when he joined the Royal Marines Band as a flute/piccolo and piano player. Roy was a gifted musician, composer and musical arranger. He had a full career with the marines playing in various bands as a principle flute player and was an instructor at the military School of music in Deal. Roy retired in 1994 and moved with his wife, Diane, to North Vancouver.
He conducted the 15th Field Regiment Band in New Westminster before accepting a position with the Naden Band in Victoria 1997-2012. During this time, Roy composed and arranged hundreds of pieces of music, and was the only musician in Canadian Military History to be awarded the esteemed Navy Bravo Zulu award for his legacy of music. The Kaighins moved to Salt Spring Island in 2008 with retirement in mind. In 2012 Roy was personally selected by the Honorable Steven L. Point Lieutenant Governor of BC to receive the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee medal.
Roy composed his own songs and arranged songs outside of the military for The Canadian Tenors, The Tenors, Ken Lavigne, Destino, & Tenore [et.al]. Last November Tenore did a tribute to Roy at Art spring and the Naden Band did a touching tribute to Roy at their Christmas concerts at the Royal Theatre in Victoria Dec 5-7 that including his arrangement of Leonard Cohen ‘s Hallelujah. The Victoria Symphony Orchestra will be playing Roy’s composition “Santa’s Journey” during their 2016 Christmas Concert.
When not playing, or writing music Roy was an avid sailor, hiker and astronomer. He loved spending time with his family and beloved dogs. Roy was a true gentleman, who touched the hearts of many and will be sadly missed by people from all around the world.
With great gratitude to Dr. James White for his compassion care and respect for Roy.
If I could leave you with any thoughts let it be this. Canadians need to change their mindset about assisted death. It is not killing someone it is relieving their suffering. Please support Dying with Dignity Canada. It is inhumane for the unnecessary suffering of the person who is ill and their families who have to watch. Thank-you.