Tributes have been paid to the memory of one of the greatest rock and rollers the island has known.

Anglin Buttimore, a popular and well-known musician and sound engineer, died last week, aged 65. With his passing he has left behind a lifetime of memories and recollections for the hundreds of friends, fellow musicians and band members he has played and worked alongside, as well as the thousands of people he has helped entertain.

As a member of countless bands in the 1970s and 80s, Anglin toured across the UK and Europe, playing with some of the biggest names in music at the time and, over the past 35 years or more, Anglin has played a vital role in helping to shape and create the music scene on the Isle of Man.

Over the years he has relentlessly played in many bands, produced the sound and looking after concerts for countless groups, from the smallest pub gigs to the biggest shows, recording albums and mentoring many talented local players who have gone on to perform on the world stage.

He spent his life immersed in music, with a particular fondness for improvisational rock and roll and blues.

He developed into a brilliant boogie-woogie piano player and could pick up and join in with almost any form of music he chose to. From the age of 14, after choosing the bass guitar and keyboards as his instruments of choice, he spent his early years in Dinas Powys, Wales, where he was born in 1955, before moving to the Isle of Man.

Born to his Irish father, Frank, and his Manx mother, Margaret Cowley, he was christened Francis Cowley Anglin Buttimore, and soon became known as just ’Anglin’, which was the surname of his grandmother.

On moving to the island in 1974, he soon became immersed in the music scene, joining the local group ’Black Mass’, where they would frequently play at such venues as the Douglas Head Hotel and the Palace Lido, where they would support many of the famous acts of the day.

One of his favourite recollections was sitting down with the rock star Phil Lynott to figure out which Thin Lizzy songs they were allowed to keep in their set.

From there he embarked on a spell as keyboard player with the Welsh rock and roll group, The Sunsets, which featured a young Shakin’ Stevens on vocals.

Playing with The Sunsets, Anglin toured across Europe before returning to the Isle of Man and settling down with his new wife, Jen, although Jen remembers that her honeymoon consisted of travelling back down to Wales so Anglin could join up with another group, the Mick Russell band to prepare for a six-month tour of Holland.

After returning to the island, Anglin trained as a sound engineer and began playing with many of the people he would remain close friends and band mates with, including Colin Hinds, Jerry Christian, George Hughes, Mick Hegarty, Tony ’Flash’ Howells and Jerry Carter, playing in such bands as Raw Deal and the Bar Toads, with his brother Simon on bass and lately Clash Vooar, with his great friends Danny Kneale and David McLean.

He would also play with the Mad Dog Davies band, during their visits to the island.

Away from the playing, Anglin forged a reputation as an expert, dependable and extremely patient sound man, who would stop at nothing to help a band out, whether the concert was held in front of tens or thousands of people.

At events such as the Isle of Music shows, the Yn Chruinnaght festival or indeed anywhere he looked after the sound, he was known to treat a 14-year-old musician nervously making their debut with as much care and professionalism as he would the headline act.

He and fellow engineer Phil Maddrell helped hundreds of bands who played on the Bushys back room stage and for the past 15 years of his career he had looked after the sound at the Villa Marina.

’Many people’s special days wouldn’t have been half so special without Anglin’s input,’ said Dave McLean.

’He was a brilliant sound engineer, and I saw him work his magic, both in my studio and on countless gigs.

’Not only could he make people sound good but he would always make them feel great about themselves.

’He was endlessly patient , and endlessly kind to one and all, and in a business where egos tend to get inflated, Anglin genuinely just did the job always with his never ending good humour and humility.’

Dave added: ’I really feel like I’ve had my left arm cut off.

’The sun won’t shine half as brightly for me and the countless other people he touched. We will miss him beyond words.’

In 1996, Anglin recorded the hit debut album by the world and folk music ensemble Daphne’s Flight, featuring Manx vocalist Christine Collister.

’He was a huge influence on my musical life, said Christine, who also recorded her first solo album and a live album, at the Gaiety Theatre with Anglin in 1994.

’There was never a moment I didn’t love and appreciate his beautiful, soul-filled friendship and I couldn’t have done all that I did off-island without his amazing support, belief and inspiration.’

Adam Wakeman, the son of rock star Rick Wakeman, was another who benefitted from Anglin’s knowledge and expertise.

Anglin formed a group, Spectrum, around the then18-year-old keyboard player, with himself on bass, giving Adam the grounding in playing live music in Manx pubs that would keep on serving him through his time touring the world as a keyboard player with Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne, as well as with his famous father.

’Anglin taught me how to play boogie-woogie piano, things like that, said Adam, when he was last on the island in 2017.

’He taught me about people like Dr John and he really shaped the whole direction of my music.’

Illness in the last few years of his life, coupled with the blow of losing his beloved brother and long-time bandmate Simon in 2016, restricted the amount of time he spent on the stage, but he still performed as an integral part of the group Clash Vooar and his brilliant, improvised piano work was key to creating their sound.

With typical humour, he would describe his playing, through his failing eyesight, as sounding like ’Stevie Blunder’.

Late last year he was awarded him a trophy to mark his lifetime’s work in music by friend and fellow sound man Ant Palfreman at the revived ’Mo Maddrell’s Bitching Party’.

He leaves his wife Jen, children Dan, William and Jessica and a lifetime of music and stories to remember him by.

Jen sent her thanks to everyone who has got in touch with the family and wanted to let his friends know that he died at home in her arms while wearing his favourite Dr John T-shirt.

However, a tribute to Anglin wouldn’t be complete without one of his many stories.

Jerry Carter remembers one particular night himself, Anglin and Jerry Christian ended up playing at the Douglas Hotel, when the building caught fire.

’I wanted to leave but was overruled by Jerry and Anglin who’s combined Titanic spirit thought it best if the band played on,’ remembered Jerry.

’So we carried on playing while firemen with hoses and breathing equipment running up and down the stairs to an upstairs room which was ablaze.

’After the fire crew left I turned to Anglin and enquired "Now what?"

’With a broad grin on his face Anglin replied: "Get the beers in, Carter. All the smoke has made us thirsty!"’