Eckington Parish Church

Parish Church c1955
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I grew up in Eckington in the 1950s and 1960s. My father, Emerson, and his father, John Henry, were coal merchants in the village. My father was a member of many church activities in his youth as well as being a brass bandsman (euphonium) of high repute. My grandfather was a conductor of Eckington Silver Prize Band. Emerson joined the church choir. As a result of this, my brother John and I joined the choir and Scouts attached to the church under the leadership of Reverend Stanley Branson. John became the church organist for a while and then, at the age of 15yrs, I took over the post when John went to London to study at the Royal Academy of Music. We were both piano pupils of Mildred West (Noden). Most of our family life was centred around the church and gave us a foundation for our later lives. Emerson died in 1985, but Rose, his wife, is still with us at the age of 91. I became a school music teacher after qualifying at St Luke's College, Exeter, with further qualifications from Trinity College of Music, London and Worcester College. John now lives in Queensland, Australia and is a music publisher. I retired in 2004 after 35 years teaching. Happy memories!