User:Orion1231/Ernest Herbert Warrell

--Orion1231 (talk) 09:08, 5 October 2010 (UTC)

New article name new article content ... Ernest Hubert Warrell MBE FKC Hon MA (Lambeth) Hon FTCL Hon FGCM ARCO ARCM (23 June 1915 – 17 August 2010)

Ernie (also known as John) was born in 1915 in Camberwell. He became a Junior Exhibitioner at Trinity College of Music in 1926. Worked as an office boy, first at Sharwood's Pickle Factory and then (for a shilling a week less) in a firm of solicitors, progressing to become an income tax clerk at which he worked until 1940. In 1937 he became an articled assistant to Dr E T Cook, organist at Southwark Cathedral, the last Articled Assistant in England. Articles were interrupted by World War II when he served in the British Army in the Pioneer Corps, Royal Scots and, after commissioning in the Middlesex Regiment and Special Operations Executive.

On de-commissioning he became a professional musician and, after resuming articles, was appointed Assistant Organist at Southwark Cathedral in 1946; Organist of Guy's Hospital Chapel 1946 – 1953; organist and lecturer in Music at King's College, London 1953-1991; lecturer in Plainsong at the Royal School of Church Music 1953-1957; teacher at Crown Woods School, Eltham 1958-1962; lecturer Avery Hill College 1962-1968; Sometime organist at St Mark's, Primrose Hill and St John the Divine, Kennington; Director of Music Southwark Cathedral 1968-1975; Musical Director Gregorian Association 1968-1985; Chief Examiner in Music for the International Baccalaureate 1984-1989; Choirmaster St Paul's Covent Garden 1989-2006; Organist at Harrow and Wembley Progressive Synagogue 1991-2010 (He was a committed support of the work of the Council of Christians and Jews); and Director of Music at St. Paul's, Deptford 2000-2010.

Married in 1952, he interrupted his wedding celebrations to play for the recommissioning of the Southwark organ after restoration.

He was awarded MA (Lambeth) in 2006; appointed MBE in 1990; Hon FGCM 1988; FKC in 1977; Hon FTCL in 1975; Vic President Guild of Church Musicians. He maintained a life long interest in plainsong and the Gregorian Association. In contrast, he delighted in cinema organs and took great pleasure in teaching “Barber's shop” close harmony to undergraduate groups. His unparalleled contribution to the priesthood of the Church of England lies in the unknown of ordinands whose musical training he accomplished for nearly forty years through King's College, London, Warminster and St Augustine's College Canterbury. Ernie reckoned the total he trained to be at least 1100. He was a passionate advocate in musical education for all and said often that he firmly believed that ordinary people are capable of the most extraordinary achievements.