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OBITUARY
RICHARD GEORGE GREENING, 1927-1979
The news of Dick Greening's sudden death on October 26th came as a great shock to us. He will be remembered as an archetypal figure in the long succession of English cathedral musicians (a succession of which he was very much aware, often commenting that he was only the sixth holder of the organistship at Lichfield since the mid-eighteenth century) and as one who strove hard to uphold the best standards in his appointed sphere. During his tenure (1959-78), the music at Lichfield was maintained at a level of competence which some other, more prestigious establishments would have done well to emulate. Also during this period, the Lichfield Cathedral organ was rebuilt. Planning the rebuilding of a grand cathedral organ is an awe-inspiring task; Greening sought to give equal consideration to the claims of past and present, and, at a time when pretentious schemes abounded, the Lichfield rebuild represented a welcome degree of sanity. Thanks to Dick Greening, the Lichfield organ remains one of our finer cathedral organs.
Greening served for two years as a Council member of BIOS, and the active support of a Cathedral organist was much appreciated in the society's early days. Quite apart from his musical gifts, Dick Greening will be remembered for his skill as a raconteur, and for his genuine humility. He will be missed.
NJT
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