My first memories of Southwell are of attending the audition/entrance exam for a choral scholarship in 1949 at the age of 8. I distinctly remember answering the question, ‘give the opposite of the word POOR’ my answer ‘POSH’. My arrival at the boarding house Sacrista Prebend the following September was truly memorable as being the most awful day of my life up to then. The headmaster Mr. Rushby-Smith seemed to have an aura of immense power and authority from the very beginning. Read More...

Tags: Rushby-Smith, Sacrista, Boarders, Choir, Trebech Hall, Pulford, Minster Cafe, Stayover, Dance, Baker

Being involved at a young age in music in a Cathedral setting, one could hardly avoid becoming entranced by both the ethereal beauty of the surroundings and the aesthetic nature of the music that one heard on an almost daily basis. As youngsters we all had our heroes, most often these were the great athletes or sporting champions we all would hope one day to emulate. Yes, I had those heroes too, but also great musical heroes who calmly and assuredly went about their daily business with the confidence and professional expertise allied with genuine modesty that only the true genius has. Read More...

Tags: Baker, Peters, Music, Choristers