The Music Community of Victorian Worcester
Written by Albert Edward Bibbs
The Minor Canons were especially an excellent body of men, which included Canon Cattley, Rayson, T.L. Wheeler: Floyer: Eckett: W.G. Melville (now Vicar of Stratford-on-Avon): E.H. Tupper: Chignell: Phelips: C.T. Powell, the present Vicar of St. Johns: and H. Clifford, who did so much to raise the standard of the Choir: and the Precentors, E. Vine Hall and H.H. Woodward 'of pious memory'. Nor must we fortget the stately and dignified Custos... Mr. Simpson and later the genial Mr. Eldershaw, who lies buried in Western Canada. What pleasant memories all of these recall!
It was the custom of the Dean and Chapter to invite the Choir to an outing each year, the first being held at Witley Court, and this was the only time men and boys went together. On that occasion Dr. Yorke presided at the luncheon at the Hundred House, being supported by Canons Barry, Wheeler and Cattley.
the old Hundred House: today it is still a public inn of quality
Subsequently many interesting places were visited, and one year Dr. Melville accompanied us to Oxford where we dined at his old college... Brasenose... being served on the College's silver, and where the ladies donned the gowns of the undergraduates. Most of the Colleges were visited at one time or another, and Minor Canon Clifford took us over his old College... that of 'Lincoln".
An outstanding visit was to Windsor Castle, accompanied by Canon Creighton, who had the entre' to the Castle and enabled us to see the private apartments, which are not shown to the public. It is said he knew more of the ramifications of the Castle, than any other man of his day. Many interesting talks we had with him, to and fro, on the railway journey, and I remember his saying his great ambition was to keep a pub: and then he went on to describe the novel lines on which he would run it. He was fond of conundrums, and one he propounded was:
"If you asked a friend to make a bee-house for you, what oratorio would you name?"
The answer was "O do just make a bee-house" (Judas Macabeeus). His contention was, the worse the pun, the better it was. He was great fun, and a delightful companion, and savoured nothing of the Cleric, when out of the pulpit.
Written by Albert Edward Bibbs
The Minor Canons were especially an excellent body of men, which included Canon Cattley, Rayson, T.L. Wheeler: Floyer: Eckett: W.G. Melville (now Vicar of Stratford-on-Avon): E.H. Tupper: Chignell: Phelips: C.T. Powell, the present Vicar of St. Johns: and H. Clifford, who did so much to raise the standard of the Choir: and the Precentors, E. Vine Hall and H.H. Woodward 'of pious memory'. Nor must we fortget the stately and dignified Custos... Mr. Simpson and later the genial Mr. Eldershaw, who lies buried in Western Canada. What pleasant memories all of these recall!It was the custom of the Dean and Chapter to invite the Choir to an outing each year, the first being held at Witley Court, and this was the only time men and boys went together. On that occasion Dr. Yorke presided at the luncheon at the Hundred House, being supported by Canons Barry, Wheeler and Cattley.
the old Hundred House: today it is still a public inn of qualitySubsequently many interesting places were visited, and one year Dr. Melville accompanied us to Oxford where we dined at his old college... Brasenose... being served on the College's silver, and where the ladies donned the gowns of the undergraduates. Most of the Colleges were visited at one time or another, and Minor Canon Clifford took us over his old College... that of 'Lincoln".
An outstanding visit was to Windsor Castle, accompanied by Canon Creighton, who had the entre' to the Castle and enabled us to see the private apartments, which are not shown to the public. It is said he knew more of the ramifications of the Castle, than any other man of his day. Many interesting talks we had with him, to and fro, on the railway journey, and I remember his saying his great ambition was to keep a pub: and then he went on to describe the novel lines on which he would run it. He was fond of conundrums, and one he propounded was:
"If you asked a friend to make a bee-house for you, what oratorio would you name?"The answer was "O do just make a bee-house" (Judas Macabeeus). His contention was, the worse the pun, the better it was. He was great fun, and a delightful companion, and savoured nothing of the Cleric, when out of the pulpit.