1972

David Thorne playing the organ.

The photograph is a 35 mm slide that formed part of a Schools Resource pack created in 1972. Pictures and information about the resource pack are available online. An original pack is in the Exeter Cathedral Archive

David was Organ Scholar at the Cathedral and organ pupil of Paul Morgan, Assistant Organist at the time (see below). David went on to Portsmouth Cathedral as Assistant Organist (1978–1999) and then Organist of Portsmouth’s Roman Catholic cathedral (2000–2006).

During the academic singing year 1971–1972, Lionel Dakers, the Organist and Master of the Choristers (since 1999, and the appointment of Andrew Millington, the role has been known as The Director of Music, with the former role of Assistant Organist being called The Organist), took a sabbatical period as an examiner for The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), in what was then Rhodesia (Zimbabwe since 1980). It is now uncertain whether the sabbatical was for a term or six months during 1972. Paul Morgan, as Assistant Organist (1969-1999; Organist 1999–2010), was in charge for that term, with David playing the organ.

Since David is shown playing the organ and in another slide from the same 1972 School Resource pack, a choir rehearsal has Paul Morgan directing the choir, both slides could have been taken during Lionel’s sabbatical term. This timing also probably explains why Lionel Dakers does not feature in any of the slides or recorded interviews in the 1972 resource pack; he is not even mentioned by name anywhere. Since he was the Organist, and directly in charge of the cathedral’s music, it would have been natural for him to have appeared.

The slides of David and the Paul directing the rehearsal were probably taken on the same occasion, as David is playing from one of the typical buff-coloured, card-bound copies of choral music used by the choir (during the 1970s, much of the recently purchased music was stitch-bound in buff, red or grey card covers, with calligraphic hand-lettering on the covers by Clive Dickinson – he is shown in several 1970s photos – they are still  in use, 2025). Using image enhancement of the photo, it is only possible to establish that the piece has two music systems of four lines for SATB and three lines of organ on each page; the actual piece is uncertain.

With thanks to Clive Dickinson for identifying David and for information, and to Heather and Paul Morgan for information. Refs:

• https://www.organ-biography.info/index.php?id=Thorne_David_c1951
• https://davidthornemusic.com/

(websites accessed 16.5.2025)

Click on the image for a larger version.