EDGAR RICHARDS
Honorary Life President
Died Monday 27 December 2004
Edgar Richards joined Birmingham Choral Union (Bass line) in the
spring of 1949, persuaded by his late wife, Betty, who had joined 3
years earlier. In 1997, he inspired the Choir with his singing presence
at Betty’s memorial concert – Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem – a rather
sad irony, as this is the work that the Choir is preparing for its next
concert on 19 March 2005. Between them, Edgar and Betty notched up well
over 100 years of service to the Choir. Edgar used to laugh that he was
just in time to avoid the introduction of auditioning and had about 6
rehearsals to prepare for ‘Dream of Gerontius’, his first concert with
the Choir!
In the autumn of 1950, he joined the Committee as Librarian and, like most potential Chairmen, served time in the other Offices. From then until 1989, he served on the Committee! He was also actively involved on the Committee of the National Federation of Music Societies (now Making Music).
It was in the 60s and 70s, however, that some of his greater achievements occurred. The visit of the Neeber-Schuler Choir of Frankfurt-am-Main was prompted by the cultural agreement made between Birmingham, Frankfurt and Lyons in 1966. Edgar was delighted when Birmingham Choral Union was invited to take an active part in the arrangements for the tour the following year and to act as hosts to the German Choir. It was a great success, culminating in them joining the Birmingham Choral Union for the second half of an Opera Concert in the Town Hall. That year also saw the first of two invitations (the second being in 1972) to Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod for Birmingham Choral Union to perform at the Festival’s closing concert. As Chairman, Edgar had a lot of work to do then!
A modest man, his life seemed to him to be quite ‘ordinary’, but to others, his kindness, support and continued enthusiasm for music and singing were ‘extra- ordinary’. He also had great powers of persuasion, as Colin Baines and I can testify. In my case, I had been with the Choir only a few weeks when he and the late Geoffrey Brevitt asked me to be Treasurer – I’ve been on the Committee (now Board of Trustees) ever since! In Colin’s case, he persuaded him to accept the role of Conductor – a wise move, indeed.
Without people like him, hundreds of organisations up and down the country could not exist. We salute his contributions and are privileged to have enjoyed his involvement, as well as knowing him for so long.
Members of Birmingham Choral Union extend their sympathy to his family at this sad time for them.
Edgar's funeral took place at Lodge Hill Crematorium on Thursday, 6 January 2005 when members of the choir sang two pieces from Mendelssohn's Elijah.
Marian Dawes
Chairman