THE prolific Swindon-born composer Graham Whettam, who was known for his futuristic piano works, has died, aged 79.

He passed away on Friday at his home in Gloucestershire and since then tributes have been paid to a man known as one of Britain's elder statesmen of music.

Alan Wicker was a piano teacher living in Headlands Grove in the mid 1950s when a young man full of ambition came to him for lessons.

Alan, who taught at Swindon College from its first days, is now 80 but he remembers the first visit vividly.

He said: "I had come out of the Royal College of Music in 1954 and Mr Whettam was known to me as a self-taught composer.

"As such he had little time for technical expertise, but wanted to be able to read off the score as quickly as possible."

Alan actually played some of Mr Whettam's music at the Arts Centre, and remembers how complex it was.

He said: "It was almost unintelligible at first view, very modern.

"The piano preludes were extremely challenging, because he wanted to stretch the instrument to its full potential."

Mr Wicker did not have connections with Mr Whettam after that, because the latter moved to Cheltenham.

But after several years of struggle his work became known around the world.

Mr Wicker said: "He published much of his work himself from 1970, and it's true that he was better known abroad than at home."

Among the well-known titles was his 1969 opera The Chef Who Wanted To Rule The World.

He also wrote concertos for the oboe and clarinet, as well as four symphonies.

Mr Whettam was to celebrate his 80th birthday on September 7, and had most recently received commendation for recordings of his piano music by Anthony Goldstone and Caroline Clemmow.

His final week was marked by the release of the Carducci String Quartet which had been performed at the Three Choirs Festival in Gloucester.

But the accolades he picked up from BBC performances and appearances across Europe could all have been jeopardised by his Swindon childhood.

He began composing aged 16 but a spinal illness forced him to spend much of his time resting.

Fortunately, letters from the organist of Sheffield Cathedral and the conductor Sir Adrian Boult persuaded him to follow his vocation in music.