The GOA Annual Dinner has attracted an increasing number of members and their wives. This year, on Saturday 19th November at The Harwood Hall, Christ Church, Cheltenham, our Guest of Honour was Barry Rose who gave a fascinating talk about his many achievements. Barry was accompanied by Buffy, his wife and, together with members and friends, enjoyed a splendid meal. Thanks go to Brian for organising this.
Barry Michael Rose OBE (born 24th May 1934) was born in Chingford, London (formerly Essex). He grew up playing hymns on the piano at his local Sunday school, and later accompanying the choir on the harmonium at the mission church of St Anne’s Chingford Hatch. Leaving the Sir George Monoux Grammar School, Walthamstow, at the age of 16, he set out on a career in commerce, working in the insurance departments of W. H. Smith & Son Ltd. and Joseph Rank Ltd. In 1956 he joined Martindale Sidwell’s choir at Hampstead Parish Church as a bass, going on from there two years later to become organist and choirmaster at St Andrew’s Church, Kingsbury, North West London. It was while he was at Kingsbury that he decided to leave the world of commerce, and, despite not having any of the required qualifications for entry, the principal (Sir Thomas Armstrong) offered him a place at London’s Royal Academy of Music to study organ with C. H. Trevor. In April 1960, whilst still an unqualified academy student, at the age of 25 he became the youngest cathedral organist in the country when he was appointed as the first Organist & Master of the Choristers at the new Guildford Cathedral. At Guildford he founded a choir to sing the daily services, their first public appearance being the service of consecration on 17th May 1961 in the presence of the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and other members of the royal family.
He moved to St Paul’s Cathedral in 1974 as sub-organist and in 1977 was appointed to the specially created post of Master of the Choir. He conducted the choir at the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales on 29th July 1981. He left St Paul’s in 1984 after a difference of opinion with senior members of the clergy.
From 1971 to 1986 he was Religious Music Adviser to the BBC, a job that included booking the choirs for the weekly Choral Evensong broadcasts. He continued to work for the BBC, directing choirs and arranging music for The Daily Service. After leaving St Paul’s he became Master of the Choirs at the King’s School, Canterbury. His last post was that of Organist & Master of the Choristers for St Albans Cathedral Choir, from which he retired on 25th December 1997. In the Queen’s Birthday Honours List announced on 13th June 1998 he was appointed OBE for his services to cathedral music.
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Starter
Home Made Cream of Vegetable Soup
Root vegetables cooked and pureed with a creamy texture served with a crusty roll and butter.
Or
Salmon Strudels
Salmon, mushrooms, celery and onion wrapped in filo pastry served with a salad garnish.
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Melon Cocktail
Honeydew, Gallia, and Cantaloupe melons with grapes and mandarin oranges.
Main Course
Chicken Fricassee
Boneless chicken breast cooked in a creamy mushroom sauce.
Or
Fish Gratin
Cod, salmon and prawns in a creamy white wine sauce with a breadcrumb and cheese au gratin topping.
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Traditional Roast Beef
Slices of top-side of beef and Yorkshire pudding with horse-radish sauce.
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Mediterranean Vegetable Jalousie
Mediterranean vegetables in a tomato and herb sauce in a puff pastry case topped with mascarpone and gruyere cheese.
Desserts
Chocolate and Brandy Roulade
A thin light chocolate sponge flavoured with brandy and rolled up with whipped cream and seasonal fruit (suitable for coeliacs).
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Apple sand Lemon Flan
Sweet pastry case with a tangy lemon and Bramley apple filling.
Raspberry Trifle
A sponge base with a fresh raspberry and vanilla custard decorated with fresh double cream.
Tea or Coffee and Mints