Organists and Conductors

Not a great deal is known about organists at Spalding Parish Church, and so if anyone can let me know any additional information - please email me.

Haydn Chester M.C., A.R.C.O.

Haydn Chester was organist at Spalding Parish Church from 1920 to the mid 1940s. Quoting from memories by John Tippler:

Haydn Chester was a humorous sort and would stand outside his sizeable grocer’s shop on the corner of New Road and Broad Street and chat freely with passers-by. He had a weekly advert in the Free Press, with a fresh joke or funny story every week.

Colin Martin F.R.C.O.

Colin took over from Haydn Chester in the mid 1940s (tbc) and remained as Organist until his retirement in 1981. He worked for Addlington's (an electrical firm with a shop in Red Lion Street.)

Canon Michel Synge persuaded Colin to take his FRCO (Fellow of the Royal College of Organists) so that he would be allowed to teach in local schools. (At that time the FRCO was an acceptable qualification in place of a Teaching Certificate). This meant that Colin was able to teach part-time in the Spalding Parish Day School, and also at the Grammar School.

Prior to 1979 when I was appointed as Assistant Organist, there had not been a long-term paid assistant organist at Spalding Parish Church. My appointment as assistant was made in preparation for the retirement of Colin Martin in 1981.

On my appointment as Organist in 1981, there was still no provision for a paid assistant organist.

Michael Jakeman (son of the vicar, Canon Jakeman) played the organ on occasions, and his father would have liked him to become my assistant. Unfortunately the PCC were unwilling to allocate any funds for an assistant organist, and so Michael subsequently became organist at Moulton Parish Church.

Over the years Eric Wayman, who was organist at Boston Stump and director of Cantemus, has played the organ for special events, concerts and various Cathedral visits, and was in fact honorary Assistant Organist during his latter school years - up until July 1971. He also deputised whilst Colin was ill - during the last four months of 1971.

Our first official honorary 'Assistant Organist' was Peter Morris - a pharmacist living in Long Sutton. He became involved with the choir in 1989 and began to play the organ for all our services. This gave me the first proper opportunity to conduct the choir - instead of playing the organ.

Peter played for us for ten years, including our Cathedral Visits, until, very sadly, he was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 1998.

When Peter died in 1999, Joy Morris bought an oak music stand in memory of Peter - and this is the conducting stand still used today.

Following Peter's death, there followed a short period when we did not have anyone else to play the organ - but soon Tim Clark came along.

Tim had been appointed as Deputy Head of Spalding High School in 1999 - and after a meeting with the vicar, Tim Barker, he began to play the organ for some of the 9.30am services. He began to attend our choir practices, and began to accompany at the 11am service - and then later Evensong. He became much more involved in 2002 (when was promoted to Head Teacher at Spalding High School), and became our full time honarary Assistant Organist.

Tim continued to play the organ alternate weeks right up until Easter 2014, when he left Spalding to live in Kent. Since then he has continued to play for us at Spalding annually for Easter and Christmas Services, as well as at some of our Cathedral Visits. He particularly enjoyed playing for us at St. George's Chapel Windsor in 2018, and at St Paul's Cathedral in May 2019.

We are extremely grateful for Tim's support over the years, and for continuing to maintain his links with Spalding, and our choir.

Since 2013 we have not had an official Assistant Organist. Marie Potter initially showed an interest in this post, but after a few months she decided that this was not for her, and preferred to be organist at Donington Church.

David Shepherd had been involved now for the past couple of years, playing the organ at Spalding for two or three Evensong services each month. David has also accompanied our choir at Peterborough Cathedral.

Organists who play at other services

In addition to the people mentioned above, I would like to record my grateful thanks to other organists who play at different services, week by week in our church. (Services which normally do not have the choir present).

These include:

• David Clements

• Rodney Brittain

• Jane Stacey

Conducting the choir

Until David Jones joined the choir, the choir sang without a conductor at all - apart from any unaccompanied anthems. For these I would give the chord on the organ, and then scurry down from the organ loft to conduct the choir. Later one of the choir members would play the chord on the piano. When David Jones joined the choir, he began to conduct as well as sing - and has continued to conduct each week whenever required.

When Peter Morris joined us in 1989 - and began to accompany the services - this gave me the first proper opportunity to conduct the choir myself, and to teach the choir to watch - and respond - to a conductor. I then realised that it would be possible to train some of the teenage choir members to conduct. Over the years we have had a number of boys who have become extemely accomplished at this, and I am very grateful to all those who have conducted - and continue to conduct - our choir.