Category: Uncategorised

Thanks to the enormous help of Jonathan and Paul of Henry Groves & Son, our Nottingham organ-builders, my house organ is installed in our new music room. It is now playing and almost complete, with just the piston system to install now; more updates when all is done.

This past week I have surveyed and written up two fine Edwardian three-manual organs by first-class Northern makers: one by Albert Keates of Sheffield, the other by Ernest Wadsworth of Manchester. Both are under threat, one for financial reasons and one through congregational apathy. Nothing new there, of course, but in looking at the quality of materials and construction of these organs and thinking just how many like them are threatened with removal, I felt I must do all I possibly can to inspire the churches to keep them. But you can’t win them all.

George Holdich built some beautiful organs, notably his masterpiece at Lichfield Cathedral, of which very few survive in anything like original condition. I greatly enjoyed a day preparing for and presenting a 150th birthday concert on his largest surviving instrument — the fine 3-manual in Hinckley U.R.C. church. The audience was warmly appreciative — they even queued to buy my CDs!

I was very pleased with my dear friends in Nottingham Bach Choir on 17 June, who sang a most expressive performance of three of Parry’s fine ‘Songs of Farewell’, the challenging ‘Lord, let me know mine end’ being particularly well carried off. After the interval they responded to my every gesture in a moving performance of the Duruflé Requiem. It was a delight to have my erstwhile Southwell colleague, Simon Hogan, as accompanist, and to listen to his stunning performance of the Duruflé Suite pour Orgue.

Anne and I had a wonderful day at Lambeth Palace on 9 June, when the Archbishop of Canterbury conferred upon me the Thomas Cranmer Award for Worship. The award was for my ‘distinguished service as Rector Chori and Cathedral Organist at Southwell Minster and as one of the UK’s foremost organ consultants’. Lovely that one of my choir-trainer heroes, Ralph Allwood, was presented with the Award at the same ceremony. Amazing tea!

I was skilfully interviewed on BBC Radio Nottingham on 12 May, on their afternoon show. I’m always happy to talk about life as a cathedral organist (more relaxing now I’ve retired from Southwell!), and it was good to be able to get in a plug to help Chorister recruiting. They played a track from my final CD with the choir, Elgar’s stirring ‘Give unto the Lord’, an anthem whose superb 1969 Worcester Cathedral recording under Christopher Robinson was instrumental in inspiring me to become a cathedral organist — and to love Elgar.

It was a pleasure attending Evensong at Southwell on 29th April, when my successor as Rector Chori, Paul Provost, was installed. A beautiful service, and he had the cathedral choir eating out of his hand; augurs well for the future.

So enjoyed conducting Mendelssohn’s stirring oratorio St Paul with Nottingham Bach Choir and Orchestra on 1st April. I can’t imagine why it’s not programmed more regularly.