Obituary: Dr John Birch

Obituary: John Birch

Civilised and convivial, a twinkle heralding the arrival of yet another humorous anecdote from his seemingly endless collection, John Birch was a consummate professional musician admired everywhere - including by generations of Sussex students.

Birch, who died aged 82 on 28 April following a severe stroke at his home in Chichester, was University Organist from 1967-94.

He was also Visiting Lecturer in Music, teaching keyboard harmony (in a variety of cubby holes in Arts B, Sussex House and even the Mantell building) from 1971-83.

Appointed Organist and Master of the Choristers of Chichester Cathedral at the young age of 29 in 1958, where he stayed until 1980, he was commissioned to design the organ in the new Meeting House at Sussex in 1966.

He conducted both the Meeting House Choir (with, then, a full complement of organ scholars and choral scholars) and the University Chamber Choir.

He directed the annual ‘Messiah’ from scratch (for students, faculty - and on occasion - inmates from Lewes Prison, for whose sensitivities he tended to refer to “measures” rather than “bars”, and to omit “Let us break their bonds asunder” altogether).

With the late Stephen Medcalf he devised the annual Christmas carol services (once broadcast live on BBC Radio Brighton) and he gave regular brilliant lunchtime organ recitals every term.

An honorary MA was conferred on him by Sussex in 1971 and he was later awarded an Honorary Lambeth Doctorate of Music by the Archbishop of Canterbury.