Recollections of an Owlpen Church Choir Boy

Written by Margaret Groom, taken from a scrapbook handed to her by Jo Rymer. She understands it originally belonged to the late Margaret Phillips of Elcombe.

When King Edward VII died in 1910 there was of course the usual Memorial Service, this included a solemn March played on the Organ.

It was a well known at that time that the Organ in Owlpen Church would produce far more volume than was necessary for a church so small. The Organist at this time was Mr R Lusty, a very self important man but nonetheless an excellent choir master.

He started to play his piece and everyone in the congregation stood stiffly to attention. Mr Lusty finally reached the section of music which sounded like a 21 gun salute. He felt this was an opportunity to show what he and the Organ could do, so he pulled out all the stops and the Organ thundered and roared! Suddenly the music ceased (much to the amusement of the giggling choirboys) and then came the most awful loud squeaks, grunts & groans from this musical instrument. Mr Lusty had used up more “steam” than the small organ blower could provide.

As it happened, one of the choir men was a Mr Rowley Elliot – a very big powerful man – with a fine baritone voice. He worked in the village as a Blacksmith. From his stall facing the vestry door, he quickly sized up the situation and striding across the chancel he took over the billows handle and with a few powerful strokes restored the pressure needed to allow Mr Lusty to finish his piece in triumph.

So a very unforgettable memorial to King Edward VII, from our beautiful little church at Owlpen.