TRIBUTES have been paid to a Bournemouth music teacher who died after contracting coronavirus.

Terry Cheesman, 62, a guitar teacher who taught at Bournemouth School for Girls and Talbot Heath, passed away earlier in April.

Terry was married to Penny, and they raised three children, Amy, Jamie and Daniel, from Penny’s previous marriage.

Alongside friends Andy Graham and Lee Hankinson, he was in a band called The Floaters.

Andy described Terry as “one of the greats” and said he “enhanced the potential of so many”.

He said: “He was a quiet and gentle guy, with whom I never had a cross word and from whom, without being aware of it at the time, I learned a huge amount.

“Terry was a fantastic musician. A natural who was easily the best I have ever worked with but who had no ego whatsoever.

“Between 2010 and March of this year, our main focus was in the three piece band The Floaters, an appalling name that we stuck with, along with the excellent Lee Hankinson on drums, we played hundreds of gigs locally during the last decade.

“Terry was, for me, one of the greats. Someone who would enhance the potential of so many who were lucky enough to be part of his influence.

“His enthusiasm for life, music, fishing and holidays, as well as his pupils was infectious and I consider myself hugely fortunate to have met him and to have shared so many good times with him.

“I will miss him every day.”

Terry was also senior examiner for 18 years with Pearson. He studied at Bournemouth University between 1998 and 2000, achieving a master’s degree in music, theory and composition.

Prior to this, between the years 1981 and 1985, he attended the London College of Music, earning diplomas in classical guitar.

Fellow bandmate Lee described him as generous, thought-provoking and honest.

He said: “Terry was one of only a handful of people I could genuinely count on.

“He and Penny supported me during a very difficult period in my life and for that I will forever be in their debt.

“Terry’s passing is a great loss to all that knew him. Life will never be the same.”