Sterling Betancourt, the Trinidadian musician credited with bringing steelpan music to the UK, has died aged 96, prompting reflections from his widow, Beatrice, on his resilience and generosity. Betancourt arrived in Britain in 1951 as one of 11 members of the Trinidad All-Steel Percussion Orchestra (Taspo), performing at the Festival of Britain outside London's Royal Festival Hall, where an initially sceptical crowd was won over by the instrument's sound. His significance lies in his role as one of the last Windrush-era musicians who reshaped British music, laying foundations that endure to this day.

Born in Port of Spain in 1930, Betancourt began beating rhythms on tins as a young child and learned to make instruments from oil drums left by the US navy during the second world war. When the rest of Taspo returned to Trinidad in 1951, he stayed in London, building his own pans from discarded oil drums, learning jazz drumming to survive, and gradually introducing the instrument to the Soho jazz scene and beyond. Despite encountering "No Blacks, No Irish, No Dogs" signs and racist violence, he remained positive; alongside Russell Henderson, he helped seed what became the Notting Hill carnival, which marks its 60th anniversary in August. An MBE recipient, he will be honoured this month at Steel Scenes, a festival at the Royal Festival Hall marking Taspo's 75th anniversary.