Concordia Magazine 2025

Graham Sudbury

(1938–1944)

Graham’s career included roles as composer and arranger and as organist and choir director at St Mary’s, Primrose Hill (1952–54), and Wimborne Minster, where he was also a member of the Diocesan Music Committee. He directed choir festivals and gave a recital in Salisbury Cathedral. His daughters Alison and Veronica were born during this time. In 1959 the family moved to Torquay, where Graham was Director of Music at Churston Ferrers Grammar School, at St John’s Church, then at St Mary the Virgin Church in St Marychurch. At this time he also gained his Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists. He gave a recital in Exeter Cathedral, where he also took his combined choirs to sing Evensong, and was responsible for a variety of ensembles and performances, which often won competitions. In 1967 Graham was appointed Director of Music at the Perse School, Cambridge, and from 1975 he was also Director of Music at Great St Mary’s University Church, Cambridge, and served on the Bishop of Ely’s Liturgical Advisory Committee. He continued his involvement in local music with services, concerts and recitals, including in King’s College Chapel and Ely Cathedral, and he co founded the Cambridge Youth Orchestra. Graham’s interests included travel, painting, languages and literature. He is remembered by many for his quiet wit and humour, his gentlemanly manners and his strong, unwavering faith. He was a devoted family man and valued

Graham Sudbury was born on 3 December 1925 in Ealing. Between 1938 and 1944 he attended Merchant Taylors’ School, where he specialised in Classics. He served in Westminster Abbey for Archbishops Temple and Fisher, and remembered the sense of responsibility when carrying the heavy processional cross, avoiding wires above in the aisles and musing as to whether the procession would follow him if he led them astray! He also served for the Festival of Remembrance in the Royal Albert Hall. From 1944 to 1947 Graham interrupted his education to serve in the Royal Artillery. This included a spell at Glasgow University on a science course. Between 1947 and 1949 he studied full time at the Royal School of Church Music in Canterbury, gaining his Associateship of the Royal College of Organists and occasionally singing as a lay clerk in the cathedral choir. Graham studied at Magdalene College, Cambridge (1949–52), and gained the Music Tripos. The River Cam featured prominently during his time there; he founded a madrigal group that would travel by punt up the river to sing, and he rowed for his college. During this time he was also the prize-winner for the Choir Training Diploma at the Royal College of Organists. Together with his brother, John, he planned an audacious cycling trip through France, Austria and Germany in 1950. They were joined by Nita (who became Graham’s wife), Margaret (who married John) and Una, a mutual friend. The following year, John and Graham carried out a return trip. Graham married Nita Hall in 1953 in Kirkcudbright, Scotland.

his many friends. Alison Blackburn

Concordia Winter 2025 67