Sunday Luncheon with Guest Speaker, Dr Alan Thurlow, 20 November

For our Guest of Honour, Alan Thurlow, the trip to Chelmsford was a return to his county of birth. Generally known as Director of Music at Chichester Cathedral, this was a post he held for 28 years until his recent retirement.

Since leaving full time employment Alan has thrown himself—with considerable energy—into other organ-related work, including becoming President of the IAO. Almost at the onset he expressed the wish to travel the UK to meet as many members of local Associations as possible. When I read about this (in Organists’ Review) I invited Alan to meet us and he agreed with alacrity. He has already visited many Associations, and the IAO has found it such a productive exercise that Alan has been asked to serve a double term (four years) in order to complete it.

Alan outlined the work of the IAO in relation to local Associations, stating that it was originally formed to give the organ and its enthusiasts a national voice. Having heard how the IAO can help us, we were told how we can reciprocate.

Our party numbered twenty, the atmosphere was convivial, the food home cooked by John and Helen Utting and served in the hall of the Church of the Ascension, Chelmsford. Alan warmly complimented us on the welcome he had received (I took him round the room to meet our members before we sat down to eat, and he found this unusual and impressive—what had other Presidents done, I wonder?). Alan’s charisma and dedication are marking him out as a superb President serving the IAO and serving us too.