Stratford & East London Music Festival

126^th Annual Competitions 2012

(Founded in 1882)

H.J. Large Memorial Cup Peter J. Pirie Memorial Cup Mildred Pirie Memorial Cup

Reginald Turner Memorial Cup for the Senior Recital Class

Cup presented by Beryl Waghorn, Patricia Turner and Muriel Hambrook (daughters)

Reginald Alexander Turner

Reginald was born in Ilford, Essex, and lived in Ilford until 1956 when he married and moved to Chelmsford. He had three daughters, Beryl, Patricia and Muriel.

He was an electronics engineer and worked at Marconi, Chelmsford, for many years until he died suddenly in September 1956 at the age of 56.

He first became interested in music when he joined the Boys Brigade at the local church when he was twelve. He played the bugle and later went on to play the trumpet. It was discovered that he had quite a talent, and he then had formal training. Eventually he played the trombone as well.

He did his National Service in the Royal Air Force Military Band. He was also in the Big Band used for all social occasions by the RAF.

Later when he came out of the air force he formed his own band and was well known in the music world. Unfortunately the band finished with his sudden death. However he has a grandson, aged 10, playing the trombone who is also very talented – so we hope he will follow his grandfather.

H.J. Large Memorial Cup for the Junior String Solo Class

Cup Presented by Barbara Large

Herbert Joseph Large

My father Herbert Joseph Large, sometimes known as 'Tiny' since he was very tall, was born in Leytonstone in 1909.

As a boy he became an accomplished violinist and competed in the Stratford Festival several times. He played in his church orchestra and later ran a small dance band, which was most successful. An electrical engineer by profession and running his own business, he served during the war with the Auxiliary Fire Service in Woodford, East London and the City.

He played violin solos in many local concerts and also played in several good amateur orchestras around the country. In his retirement years he gained great enjoyment trom teaching himself to play the classical guitar. He also had in mind to learn to play the cello, but uhtortunately time caught up with him and he died at the age of 89.

He was a man with a great sense of humour, always cheerful and positive, who enjoyed new challenges and always took an interest in many different things. Like all dedicated musicians one of the greatest pleasures he derived from his music was practising; the value of which was recognised in his playing and the adage 'practice makes perfect' was considered by him to be a challenge rather than a mere saying.

In presenting this trophy, which commemorates his life and musicianship, his family hopes that it will become an inspiration and provide encouragement to young players for .the future.

Peter J. Pirie Memorial Cup for Classical Style Songs (15, 16 & 17 years)

Cup Presented by Ian Pirie

Peter J. Pirie

Peter J. Pirie (1916 -1997) left school with no formal qualifications, and taught himself musical composition. He won a composition scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music where he studied piano, composition and conducting. This all happened during the Second World War when times were very difficult. Peter was a conscientious objector, and spent time in prison rather than fight. He then served with the light rescue service, and saw many of the horrors of the effects of the German bombing. .

After the war, he and his family moved to Whitstable in Kent, where he helped to run a music and book shop (the shop - Pirie and Cavender - still exists). Later he moved to Sussex. near to the South Downs which he loved deeply. He took to writing about music, and wrote many articles, and reviews of recordings and of concerts, for music magazines, also a few "sleeve-notes" for records.

He is remembered for his enthusiasm for twentieth century English music, (especially that of Arnold Bax, who also loved the Sussex countryside) and he contributed to English music being better known, especially through his books: Frank Bridge (1972) and The English Musical Renaissance (1979). As a musicologist, his name appears in Groves Dictionary of Music and Musicians.

Mildred Pirie Memorial Cup for Songs from the Shows (16 and 17 years)

Cup Presented by Ian Pirie

Mildred Pirie

Mildred Pirie (1911 - 1996) ~ Peter’s wife ~ gained a BA in English, French and History from Kings College, University of London. She then qualified as a teacher, and specialised in teaching children with what we would now call learning difficulties. She was a member of the Society of Friends (Quakers), and all her life was concerned for world peace. Mildred's income provided her husband Peter, a musicologist, with the stability to pursue his writing, since it is very hard to earn a living as a freelance musicologist! She was enthusiastic about encouraging the abilities of young children, and enjoyed seeing young people taking part in shows and making music together.