Angela Nankivell
Angela Nankivell, our accompanist, died on Monday 28 March, 2011, just days before our Mozart Concert that included one of her favourite works: Mozart’s Requiem. This work was dedicated to her memory on the night of the concert. As well as being our accompanist, she was leader of the Wessex Sinfonia, she conducted and was leader of the Dorset Sinfonia, she chaired Weymouth Music Festival and served on the committee of Weymouth Music Club.
The photograph shows Angela at Pennsylvania Castle’s ‘Concert at the Castle’ in aid of St John Ambulance in July 2008.
John Edmond Wycliffe-Jones
John Wycliffe-Jones was Musical Director of Weymouth Choral Society for over 40 years. He was born in Croydon on 1 January 1925 and died on 19 February 2015 aged 90. John started playing the organ in the parish church at Surbiton, where his father was Vicar. After National Service, John read English at Queen’s College, Cambridge, followed by a year at Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where he specialised in Chopin’s piano music, studied organ with John Dykes-Bower (organist at St. Paul’s Cathedral) and conducting with Sir Adrian Boult. In 1961, the family moved to Weymouth, where John was to remain for the rest of his life, teaching at the South Dorset Technical College until his retirement in 1984. John was Musical Director of the Society from 1978 to 2000 during which time he led the centenary celebrations in 1991/2. His tenure culminated in a concert with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra when he conducted the Fauré Requiem. His immense contribution was recognised with his election to Vice President of the Society upon his retirement from the post in 2000. In March 2015, following his death, Weymouth Choral Society dedicated to his memory its performance of the much-loved Fauré Requiem. John was very much involved in the local music scene, having led the Operatic Society, been organist at St Mary’s Church, Weymouth for over 50 years (and later, other churches too) and always having been a great supporter of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.