Tributes paid to Lay Succentor

Posted on Aug 27, 2010 in news

Brian Greensill will be remembered fondly by all who encountered him. A Lay Clerk and latterly Lay Succentor in the Cathedral Choir for over twenty years, he was also a talented conductor, founding and directing many local choirs. He was remembered at the funeral last week by the former Director of Music at Chester Cathedral, David Poulter. The morning services on Sunday 19th September will be sung by the cathedral choir in his memory.

“Brian was born in Rugeley, Staffordshire and joined the church choir when he was seven years old. When his father returned from working in Ceylon the family moved to Northwich and Brian attended the Verdin Grammar School where he began to study Piano and Violin.

His working life began at Barclays Bank in Northwich, and he studied for his banking diploma in Manchester. He later went to London as an Inspector for the Bank, and it was there that he became interested in chamber choirs, auditioning for the Louis Halsey Singers.

Brian went on to work in the Education Advisory Service and retired as principal officer. After retirement he worked part time for Hacker Young Chartered Accountants.

As a singer, Brian studied first with Owen Wynne and later with Professor Ellis Keeler. He obtained his ARCM performer’s diploma in London; he sang in oratorio all over the country as a tenor soloist; and he sang with the BBC Northern singers for 21 years.

As a conductor he directed:

The Mobray Singers Chamber Choir (in Wilmslow);

The Training Orchestra (in Kelsall);

The Oriel Singers (Liverpool);

The Border Singers (Whitchurch);

Winsford Choral Society;

Chester Operatic Society.

Brian founded the Vale Royal Singers in 1978 and was with them for 25 years. Under his direction this choir gained a reputation for the precision of their performances, and became firmly established as one of the leading chamber choirs in the north of England.

The director of The Chester St Cecilia Singers, Ronald Smith, invited Brian to be his deputy in 1982; and in 1985 Brian took over as Director. He conducted between 12 and 16 concerts a year, taking the choir on many tours abroad and to most of the major cathedrals in England – only last October they sang all the weekend services at Canterbury Cathedral. Brian’s last concert was on 28 April this year – he had been the Director for 25 years and had been with the choir for 28 years. The Singers held Brian in very high esteem, particularly for his “brilliant direction and his masterly choice of music.” Last year, the St Cecilia Singers were generously sponsored by Mr Stewart Mercer to produce a CD in memory of his wife, Julia, and sales have so far generated almost £10,000 for Cancer Charities.

It is so fitting that we meet here today to give thanks for Brian’s life, in the Cathedral that he loved dearly; surrounded by the walls that have echoed with the sound of his beautiful, youthful-sounding tenor voice for so many years.

It was in 1979 that Brian auditioned for Roger Fisher to join the Chester Cathedral Choir. After a period, he became Senior Lay Clerk. Later, Dean Stephen Smalley appointed Brian as the first Lay Succentor.

Brian was a gentleman – in every sense of the word…..

Unfailingly kind, supportive, courteous, honourable;

a real team player;

He looked distinguished, sounded distinguished, and everything he did was distinguished…

He paid great attention to detail……

His scores were meticulously prepared.

His choirs were drilled to perfection…… in rehearsal he would say:

“That was very good.    BUT………!!”

He loved the Psalms, and was always so poetic in the way he interpreted the words.

He sang many inspiring solos but never wanted to steal the limelight – he always wanted to encourage others.

He always saw the best in people; the other lay clerks looked up to him; some thought of him as a role model.

I always thought of him as the father of the choir – he cared deeply for the choir, its members, and the worship of the cathedral.

Anything that disrupted the atmosphere of a service would irritate Brian, including any kind of clerical incompetence!

As Lay Succentor, his intoning of the versicles & responses and collects was always prayerful and musical.

As a conductor he made you feel you wanted to give your best. It was always a most enjoyable experience.

As I’ve said, it was obvious that Brian loved this cathedral – his spiritual home. He retired from the choir having served 21 years when his illness was diagnosed. But he was always keen to deputise, and enjoyed singing 11 services for Philp Rushforth in March this year.

But it was also obvious that Brian completely and utterly adored Marion.

Marion – a superb musician in her own right – who shared all the music in Brian’s life through singing in the Vale Royals and St Cs.

Thank you, Marion, for sharing Brian with us all. In expressing our deepest sympathy, our hearts go out to you and the family at this time.”

DAVID POULTER