St Albans Cathedral Ex‑Choristers Association
The Cathedral and Abbey Church of St. Alban
It is with yet more sadness that we have learned of the death of former tenor lay clerk, Tony Edwards.
Known to his friends and colleagues simply as “T” he was a fine tenor who sang under Peter Hurford from 1970, then Stephen Darlington, Colin Walsh and Barry Rose to 1997, and finally with Andrew Lucas until 2002.
He then went to sing in the choir St Peter’s, St Albans until his retirement.
Update:
Geoff’s funeral will be held at St Peter’s Church, St Albans on Monday 13th April at 11am.
It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death of former tenor lay clerk, Geoff Ward.
Geoff sang under Peter Hurford from 1968, then with Stephen Darlington, and briefly under Colin Walsh until 1987.
He will be remembered for both his musical talent and for his great sense of humour. Geoff was a keen supporter of Choir Camp (see photo), and the Ex-Choristers Association.
An Invitation: Cathedral Music Trust Dinner – 12th March 2026 at Hatfield House
This year the St Albans Cathedral Music Trust is celebrating 30 years of support to music at St Albans Cathedral. The Music Trust is delighted to be hosted by the Marquess and Marchioness of Salisbury for a prestigious black-tie concert and dinner event at Hatfield Park on Thursday, 12th March 2026.
The Music Trust have set an ambitious fundraising target through its Excellence for Everyone campaign which seeks to ensure a thriving and financially stable musical life at the Cathedral – and this concert and dinner are part of that fundraising effort.
As a special offer, the Chair for the Music Trust, Lionel Wallace has kindly agreed to extend the Early Bird offer to Friday 18th February 2026 for members of the Ex-Choristers Association. Tickets for ECA members are £85 per person or £800 for a table of 10 (subject to availability).
Please do email development@stalbanscathedral.
Tickets are selling fast to please secure your tickets as soon as you can.
It was with sadness that we learned of the passing of Simon Lindley.
He served as Assistant Master of Music to Peter Hurford and was Director of Music at St Albans School.
He died on 25th February 2025.
The latest edition of the ECA newsletter, Alban Notes, is now available to download.
Alban Notes #56 – Spring 2025
A full archive of ECA Newsletters going back to November 2007 is now available here – Newsletters
From the Chair of Once a Chorister
The annual, Once a Chorister Magazine has recently been published on our website and is free to download. Please distribute the link widely to your members, music departments, clergy, colleagues and anyone interested in choral music in worship. Please go to www.fcoca.org.uk and click on the link on the Home page.
We send season’s greetings and wish all choristers and former choristers everywhere a happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.
Nick Hodges
Chair