‘Oer-Drent’ and former RTV Drenthe presenter Jan Tijink from De Wijk has passed away. From the founding of RTV Drenthe, Jan Tijink presented various radio programs for many years and was committed to music until the end of his life.
Music was a common thread through the life of Tijink, who grew up in De Loo. A few months ago, Radio Drenthe presenter Jans Polling was still in contact with his former colleague. “He still wanted some music. In the retirement home where he lived, he organized musical afternoons for his fellow residents. Then I gave him some CDs.”
Although music played an important role in Tijink’s life, he fell into it by chance. As headmaster, De Drent ended up in Eibergen, Gelderland. There, in addition to his work, he worked as chairman for the football club FC Eibergen.
Having returned to Drenthe and living in De Wijk, where he started working as a school principal for OLS De Horst, he accidentally came into contact with the saxophone. “He met someone who said that they could still use people at the Apollo Music Association and asked if Tijink could do something for it. He said: ‘I have never played a note’. But he got a saxophone and took lessons. Six months later he was chairman.”
“That was typical of Jan,” says Polling. “When he did something, he really did it. He was fully committed to it. He became a very good saxophonist and was devoted to that saxophone. He practiced at home and he would not make any mistakes. When he was no longer able to play, he gave his saxophone away.”