I mentioned being excluded at school from music making. We did go to chapel every day and sang hymns from the English hymnal accompanied by Noel Iverson on the piano in some style. He never wanted a chapel organ but of course when he died one was built as his memorial! He was a drunkard and very unpleasant. Anybody who could not sing was dismissed to the back of the class. I was very happy singing in the church choir where we had a good repertoire of anthems. Communion happened once every quarter and was a very solemn occasion.
Miss Kadden was a great piano teacher and treated me as an adult. I think I had been with adults so much I preferred their conversation. She commented that I looked like a child and thought like an adult. Dad was a thorough organ teacher. He wanted me to do well but he was such a perfectionist that he was told not to appear if I was playing before the service as he would put me off. Gradually I grew more confident. The church had a fine Willis organ. We liked it when Mum joined the choir as she would say "Oh Herbert we are not King's Cambridge you know!" and Dad himself said he mellowed a bit. In my final years I was his assistant and trained the boys which I enjoyed although I knew I could not be a teacher. I was much too kindhearted for that!
As a treble I was never very confident and did not open my mouth enough. I became head choirboy and did sing Once in royal David's city but the last time I was due to sing it John Alexander had to take over as my voice was breaking. I then sang alto for quite a while up to age 16/17 until I became a tenor.
A fundraising effort was made to build a new hall and my Hornby dublo train set and scenic layout was donated and won in the raffle by a family with 2 boys. Dad had built it out of packing cases and enjoyed it more than I did! It was in my room at Vredehoek but had gone by the time we moved to Jewel Court. page 75 describes Woody's ice cream parlour. Dad was very good at organising such things!
I liked the music at school but not the choir sound which was very hooty and there was an obsession with Latin. Spike Carter said they sang Adeste fideles so the parents could NOT join in! I do not recall any of the music for the liturgy it was just hymns. The emphasis was on carol services, remembrance Day and some recordings. I loved music appreciation and I see in my 1963 diary that I went to Scott's in Illovo and listened to Beethoven and Brahms with scores getting lost a few times. I went on the bus and was picked up at the bus terminus. I was determined to widen my musical horizons as much as possible but I was never keen on pop music.
John Alexander is on the left and John Clymo on the right. The second photo is later as I am wearing by BA hood.
Miss Kadden was a great piano teacher and treated me as an adult. I think I had been with adults so much I preferred their conversation. She commented that I looked like a child and thought like an adult. Dad was a thorough organ teacher. He wanted me to do well but he was such a perfectionist that he was told not to appear if I was playing before the service as he would put me off. Gradually I grew more confident. The church had a fine Willis organ. We liked it when Mum joined the choir as she would say "Oh Herbert we are not King's Cambridge you know!" and Dad himself said he mellowed a bit. In my final years I was his assistant and trained the boys which I enjoyed although I knew I could not be a teacher. I was much too kindhearted for that!
As a treble I was never very confident and did not open my mouth enough. I became head choirboy and did sing Once in royal David's city but the last time I was due to sing it John Alexander had to take over as my voice was breaking. I then sang alto for quite a while up to age 16/17 until I became a tenor.
A fundraising effort was made to build a new hall and my Hornby dublo train set and scenic layout was donated and won in the raffle by a family with 2 boys. Dad had built it out of packing cases and enjoyed it more than I did! It was in my room at Vredehoek but had gone by the time we moved to Jewel Court. page 75 describes Woody's ice cream parlour. Dad was very good at organising such things!
I liked the music at school but not the choir sound which was very hooty and there was an obsession with Latin. Spike Carter said they sang Adeste fideles so the parents could NOT join in! I do not recall any of the music for the liturgy it was just hymns. The emphasis was on carol services, remembrance Day and some recordings. I loved music appreciation and I see in my 1963 diary that I went to Scott's in Illovo and listened to Beethoven and Brahms with scores getting lost a few times. I went on the bus and was picked up at the bus terminus. I was determined to widen my musical horizons as much as possible but I was never keen on pop music.
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