PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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George Harry Moreton was born in Devonport on August 17th 1864. He was taught music by his mother right from the start and was so talented that by the age of 8 years he was playing the organ at his parish church, St John the Baptist, in Devonport. He later played at St Peter's Church in Plymouth. He continued studying under Mr W G Hannaford and Mr John Hele and and at the age of 10 his mother suggested that he apply for the post of organist at the Stoke Damerel Church. Apparently he got this post thanks to an amusing chance. There was a dispute between the Rector and the then organist because the latter had dismissed a choirboy. Unfortunately, the choirboy was due to be the soloist at the performance of a particular anthem and the Rector was very angry about the dismissal. Her invited Mrs Moreton to be the organist but she declined and recommended her son instead, who was duly appointed to the post. But the former organist did not take his own dismissal very kindly and for the first five Sundays, young Harry sat side by side on the stool with the former organist, who refused to unlock the organ because he claimed that he had not been properly discharged. In 1879 he was articled to Doctor George B Arnold, the organist at Winchester Cathedral, where he later became sub-organist. Upon his return to Plymouth in 1882 he became organist and choirmaster at St George's Church, Stonehouse, and in 1884 moved to St Andrew's Church, the Mother Church of Plymouth. In due course he became an Associate of the College of Organists and in due course a Fellow of the College. In 1896 the University of Durham awarded him the diploma of Bachelor of Music. On August 13th 1899 he was appointed as Borough Organist of Plymouth. He was a regular broadcaster from the local station of the British Broadcasting Company, his recitals, concerts and talks being very popular. In 1932 he was awarded an honorary doctorate of music in the Library of Lambeth Palace. It seems that he tried to retire in 1940, at his own suggestion, but the public reaction was so violent that the Council reappointed him at a salary of £200 per year. Doctor Moreton did get told off, once. It seems that he liked to play the final couplet of the hymn "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" an octave higher than normal. On the first occasion he tried this, the Vicar of St Andrew's, Doctor Burroughs, told him not to do it again as he would not have "dramatics" in his Church. However, before the next occasion could come, the objection was withdrawn. A man who had been on his way to drown himself in Sutton Pool was passing the Church when Doctor Moreton got to the "for those in peril on the sea" ending of the hymn. It seemed to him that Heaven had spoken to him and that the Word of God prevented him from carrying out his plan. When Doctor Burroughs heard about this after the service, he told his organist that he would never again object to this version of the hymn. Mr Philip Liddicoat, who worked with him at St Andrew's, has placed an appreciation of his work on the website of the Plymouth and District Organists' Association, of which Doctor Moreton was a most notable member. He could play every instrument in the orchestra except the cornet, which he never attempted to learn because he disliked it. Doctor Harry Moreton died on September 8th 1961 at the age of 97 years. His son was killed in France in 1917 during the Great War and his wife died in 1951, two years after they had celebrated their Diamond Wedding. He was survived by a daughter, Ethel.
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