In Memoriam

On Monday 25 July 2011 a valued friend and colleague was taken from us when Brian Watkins, Second Tenor died following a long battle with cancer. He will be missed as a valued contributor to the choir and as a friend. Personally, I will miss his happy smiling face looking at me across the rehearsal room at Strathfield. As Tom Coghlan, Secretary said "We remain very grateful for the contributions that Brian has made to the Choir, and for the fine person and musician that he has been. "

Our sympathies lie with Patricia and all of the family at this sad time.

After a long battle with cancer John Marlow died on 15 June 2010. John was a long time member of the Sydney Male Choir and in May this year, surrounded by his loving family he proudly received a  plaque from Jim Layton, President commemorating his award of Life Membership. On 22 June over 30 of his fellow choristers attended his funeral at the Green Chapel & Memorial Gardens, Green Point, Kincumber together with a large gathering of his friends and relations to celebrate his very full life.
Our thoughts are with Margaret and John's family in their time of loss.

At a a moving service Neil Bevidge read the poem 'One at rest' which is reproduced here -

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It was with great sadness that we have heard that Owen Gibson died on 15 January 2010. Owen joined the choir in 1982 and sang in the Basses. He was to become a Part Leader and confreres attest to his mentoring and assistance.  Owen later served on the SMC Committee from 1997 to 1999.He was a diligent and conscientious singer, and served the Choir in many aspects. His skills as an electrician were used, and he set up the role of Caring Officer so that he kept members informed on the welfare of their fellow choristers. He and Shirley transported the risers around the concert venues for many years. Owen was always generous and thoughtful, and Choristers enjoyed catching up with him when he attended our concerts after retiring. He will be well remembered.

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In October 2009 the Sydney Male Choir lost a long standing member in John Evans, Second Tenor. Here are some of the tributes from fellow choristers that capture the essence of the man -

For a small man John had a huge presence in the choir. In the front row ever since I had been in the choir, John rarely missed a practice or a performance or a tour. His beautiful, melodious voice was most appreciated in the choir and at Afterglows, the times when you had a better chance to hear individual voices.

It was on tours when we got to know John and Maria better and were able to realise how warm and close their relationship was. John was a quiet but interesting and humorous man who had a wide ranging knowledge of the world and firm views about it, especially on how to make it a better place. His interest and knowledge of music and choirs made him  a popular companion.  His best moment in time was to be Compere and Organiser of the Choir to tour to his home town in Betys-Y-Coed in the 1998 tour.

In the choir John was recognised as being always word and musically perfect.  Like so many of the choir members he was very aware of his responsibilities to enhance the reputation of the choir and took those responsibilities quite seriously. 

John will be sadly missed from the choir. He gave not only a voice but an individual character that made him stand out.  Sing sweetly as always John. 

Our thoughts are with Maria and her family in their time of loss.

Click to see a report of John's life reproduced with permission from the Sydney Welsh newsletter, Llais.

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Also we lost one of our staunchest supporters in Shirley, wife of almost 51 years of Howard Schofield, First Tenor who died peacefully on 23rd October after a long Illness.

Peace for the family, fond memories of Shirley

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Early in October the choir lost one of its connections with its past in the passing of Ken Leech. Ken was in his nineties and had been an ex President of the Sydney Male Choir, a bass-baritone who sang many solos for the choir. Here is a link to a piece written about Ken in 2006 which appeared in the Summer edition of the 'The Link', the newsletter of Uniting Care - North Sydney Region.