A JAZZ pianist and teacher who ran a music night in Hampstead for a quarter of a century has died following a courageous battle with Parkinson s Disease. David Lund, 69, taught English at University College School for most of his working life, but he was

A JAZZ pianist and teacher who ran a music night in Hampstead for a quarter of a century has died following a courageous battle with Parkinson's Disease.

David Lund, 69, taught English at University College School for most of his working life, but he was most famous for his gifted musical talents which led to him becoming a well-known performer at clubs across the capital.

It was in 1975 that the teacher, who lived in Frognal, held the first of his legendary Thursday jazz concerts at the UCS Theatre which lasted for 25 years. They featured such talents as saxophonist James Moody, cornetist Harry 'Sweets' Edison, pianist Al Haig and vocalist Adelaide Hall, while bands included those of Humphrey Lyttelton and Ronnie Scott.

Before joining UCS he was heavily involved in the Cambridge Footlights and was musical director for the 1967 Revue, produced by Clive James, to which he also contributed and performed comedy material.

In 1995 he was awarded the prestigious BBC Jazz Society award for his outstanding services to jazz music.

He was also chairman of Hampstead Parish Church's 18-30 Sunday Club, which featured local celebrity speakers including Peter Cook.

His brother Peter said this week: "He was very self-effacing, the most modest person. With all his many talents he could have pushed himself much more than he did. He was really very well loved by his students and colleagues at UCS and one thing that has come across in the letters I have received is that he never ever raised his voice in the classroom, which is quite something, thinking about some of the teachers I had.

"I just don't think he had any enemies. I will miss David deeply, not only as a dear brother but also as my best friend. He will also be missed by a countless number of people to whom he was such a special person."

David Gavin Lund was born on October 18, 1940 and was educated along with his brother at Barnard Castle School in county Durham - at the time a very austere institution where jazz music was frowned upon.

In fact, Mr Lund's piano playing was positively discouraged and he was forbidden to practice in the music rooms because of the corruptive effect it was likely to have on other aspiring musicians.

Both he and his brother tuned in their radios at night in bed to catch snatches of jazz music on the American Forces Network which was strictly against the school rules.

Mr Lund also thrived in English and art classes, becoming an accomplished painter in oils.

After school he took a degree in English and taught at prep schools in Potters Bar and Surrey before taking a post-graduate teaching course at Selwyn College, Cambridge, during which he did his teaching practice at UCS.

After Cambridge he formed a regular jazz trio with his long-term collaborator Brian Brocklehurst on bass and Don Lawson on drums, performing with the bassist frequently through the early 1970s.

He moved, with the rest of his family, from Newcastle to Hampstead in the early 1960s and he joined the English department at UCS, of which he was later to be appointed head.

In 1995 Mr Lund was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and in recent years his condition had deteriorated, although because of the high quality of care he received at the Magnolia Court Care Home in Golders Green he maintained a stable condition for his last three years despite needing 24 hour care.

Mr Lund's funeral service was held at Hampstead Parish Church on June 10. He is survived by his brother.