Tributes paid to man who was 'heart of the Boston musical community'

Renowned musician David Wright spent over 40 years as organist and choirmaster at The Stump and as a music teacher at Boston Grammar School.

His son Toby said he had been: “overwhelmed by the response from so many ex-pupils who have commented on what an inspiration he was to them – not only the naturally-musical, but those for whom his teaching has led to a lifelong love of music”.

David came to Boston in 1957 to take up both roles, and despite opportunities to move elsewhere, he stayed.

Toby says: “His dedication and commitment to Boston was remarkable.

“He had the opportunities to move to higher-profile

cathedral roles around the country, but chose to stay in Boston for his whole professional career, because of his love of the place, the people, and the actual organ itself at the Stump, which was his pride and joy.”

He was born in 1934 in Leamington Spa, shortly after which his family moved to Birmingham. His musical career began when they moved to Barmouth at the outbreak of the Second World War, where he took his first piano lessons and sang in the choir.

At the age of eight he joined the choir of Lichfield Cathedral.

He went up to Oxford to read music at Exeter College in 1952, and in 1955 he was awarded the prestigious Limpus Prize, the first prize for practical performance in that session’s Royal College of Organists examinations.

He took up the role as assistant organist at New College during his studies.

During his time at the Stump, he led the choir in several broadcasts of Choral Evensong on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Overseas Service, oversaw the restoration of the Stump’s Harrison & Harrison organ in 1987, and once played for – and with – the then Prime Minister Edward Heath.

In 1978, when the BBC issued a cassette and LP from the programme Songs of Praise, it was Boston ‘Stump’s’ 1977 edition, under David’s direction, that was chosen.

Following his retirement as choirmaster at the Stump in 1999 he continued as organist, and was appointed Organist Emeritus in 2007.

In 2019, David’s services to church music in Boston were recognised by an honorary award from the RSCM, when David was made an Associate of the Royal School of Church Music at a ceremony in Salisbury Cathedral.

Toby said: “He was at the heart of the musical community of the town at a time when it was rich in cultural activity – the Boston Festival, the Boston Choral Society big orchestral concerts, the opening of the Sam Newsom Music Centre as a concert venue and light opera at Blackfriars, in addition to his activities at the Stump and Boston Grammar School.”

David married his wife, Joan (nee Gelsthorp), herself a fine musician, in 1961. He moved to Winchester early last year to be closer to Toby and daughter-in-law, Sarah, and his grandchildren, Martha and Freya.

He passed away aged 86 in Winchester.