A warm welcome to our Association

SSL Certificate being renewed

Whether you love listening to this fabulous instrument or enjoy playing it, we welcome you to join us, the Suffolk Organists' Association. Each year we publish a Journal. We offer opportunities to visit churches throughout the county and further afield, recitals and lectures. We offer bursaries and advice to those of any age who would like to advance their abilities with the instrument.

Our Secretary, Stephen Hogger, writes: "The main news is that the Council, with the agreement of the two gentlemen concerned, are proposing that we postpone the rest of 2021 events and Nicholas Jardine restarts his year in May 2021. William Baldry will remain President Elect and begin his year as President in May 2022. As many events as can be reinstated will be, so hopefully we have missed nothing. This will have to be ratified at the AGM in May in whatever form it takes but I can’t imagine that anyone would fail to see the sense in this proposal."

So unfortunately no SOA events will be able to take place until May at the very earliest. Further information will appear here and in the April Newsletter.

You will know that Peter Crompton, a former President of SOA, plays annually on the Grand Organ of the Royal Albert Hall for the Service of Remembrance. Covid regulations made this impossible last November but you may like to read his comments in an interview with the supporters of the Colchester Moot Hall organ which was fairly recently restored.

Sadly we record the death of another very loyal member of the Association. Mike Pluck from Lion Walk URC Colchester will be familiar to many of you who attended events and he was at the Annual Lunch last February. He was admitted to Colchester Hospital several months ago with a severe infection for which treatment continued and he seemed to be on the mend. He succumbed to Covid-19, contracted in Hospital, on Monday this past week.

We record the death of Catherine Ennis who has been a good friend of the Association over the years. She had been invited to adjudicate for the Organ Competition which was cancelled. Some members will recall her invitation to visit St. Giles Cripplegate many years ago where we played the instrument there.

Our thoughts are with two of our members and wish them a swift recovery: Juliette Adams, a former President of the Association who had a fall (tripping over her music case so I am told) and had several months out of action with a broken wrist. And more recently, Stephen Hogger, our Secretary, who lost a fight with a hole-cutting saw at work, spending four hours in A&E waiting to have his left thumb put back together.

Martin Ellis FRCO

You will saddened to hear that Martin, our late President of the Association, died on Thursday, 30th January 2020, at his home with Miriam at his side to whom we send our sincere condolences. His funeral will be held at Museum Street Methodist Church on Saturday 22 February at 11am.

Lilian Caudle

Sadly our member Lilian Caudle aged 105 who is our oldest member and most probably our oldest member ever has died. She died the day after what would have been her 75th Wedding Anniversary. As promised here are the details of Lilian Caudle’s funeral.

The main service will be at St Mary-le-Tower in Ipswich on Tuesday 10th March at 2pm followed by refreshments in church. The committal and burial will be at Debenham Parish Church on Tuesday 24th March at 11am (Please note change of date) with a short service in church where she started her organ playing career in 1930 followed by an opportunity for organists to play the little organ there whilst people are partaking of refreshments in church to celebrate her love of music.

News of our Student Members

Ben Banks gave an excellent recital at Royal Hospital School described in Recent Events.

14 year old Adam Chillingworth accompanied the whole of Evensong Service at St Mary le Tower including Stanford in B flat and 16 verses from Psalm 119. Martin Ellis remarked that "It was really a professional performance. Well done Adam!"

Harrison Cole, who was organ scholar at Wells Cathedral last year has now commenced his studies at Trinity College, Cambridge and very busy in his role as Organ Scholar.

Alex Evans, who won the Advanced Class last September, has been appointed DOM at Hinde Street Methodist Church – part of the West London Mission – from later this summer. We congratulate him on this extraordinary achievement at the age of 18 in such an important Church in Methodism. He has been the organ scholar at St Thomas’s Brentwood for three years where he has had experience of taking choristers' practices and conducting the Choir during Services.

The winners in the Organ Competition on Saturday 22 September 2018 were Recital Class: Jamie Robertson. Advanced Class: Alexander Evans Transitional Class: Alex Taylor Beginners Class: Hannah Meeks Most promising Student Class: Alex Taylor.

Congratulations to our youngest member – Alex Taylor – on gaining Grade 5 Organ. In the same exam session he also gained Grade 5 Guitar both with Distinction!

Deaths of Members

Two of our members have recently died. Miss Gillian Cleaver with her sister were actively engaged in attending meetings and visits together with David Brand until age and infirmity put a stop to their participation. Juliette Adams, who knew them both well, played for her funeral at Wetherden Church.

David Hatcher has also died. He played in the Clacton area.

It is with great sadness that we report the recent deaths of two former Presidents of the Association, Derrick Hibberd and Dawn Harding.

Derrick Hibberd was a staunch supporter of the SOA for many years and worked tirelessly as Secretary organising many of our overseas trips and those nearer to home. Last year he was awarded Honorary Membership. A full obituary will be printed in the Journal. Those who enjoy reading the March 2019 edition of Organists' Review will have spotted the fine tribute that Juliette Adams, a member of our Council has written. She writes, " It was with much sadness that I learned of Derrick Hibberd's death in October 2018. From 1984 to 1996 Derrick was Secretary of Suffolk Organists' Association. He carried out his duties with utmost diligence, discretion and efficiency. During his time as Secretary out membership peaked to 160. Events were well supported including trips abroad. Derrick was able to form good working relationships with the Presidents. I certainly appreciated Derrick's firm support and encouragement when I was President of the SOA. He himself served as President when he stepped down as Secretary. Derrick grew up in Sheffield, but lived in Suffolk with his family (four sons) for many years. His father was bery involved in the church music scene in Yorkshire so Derrick had exposure to church music at an early age. Prior to taking on the role of SOA Secretary Derrick was employed as a CID Detective. In his role as Secretary Derrick kept us in good order! He was instrumental in ensuring that the goals of our association were properly managed. The years from 1984-1996 were a very bright chapter for SOA. We remember Derrick with much affection and respect."

Dawn Harding died in hospital just before Christmas and was the wife of Past President John Harding. As a non-organist her presidential year also included during organ visits activities for other non-players to do. Her skills in the kitchen were legendary and teas after events took on a whole new level of excellence. Her funeral will be on Wednesday 23rd January at 3.45pm at Seven Hills Crematorium.

Earlier in the year, Peter Jackaman, organist for more tham 50 years at Bramford Parish Church died on the 29 March 2018. His funeral took place on 2 May at 11.15am in that church. He was a very loyal member of our Association for very many years.

We also remember Don Monro, a stalwart member of our Associaton and a frequent attendee on many of our visits whose funeral was at Thorpe le Soken parish church in January 2018 and another dedicated post holder for more than half a century.

Andrew Garfath-Cox Hon. Web Administrator and a Past President