ST PETER’S Church in Bournemouth was a large part of my early life and seeing the choir in the news (Daily Echo 5 October), reminds me of being a 12-13 year old chorister there in 1937-8.
The choir was a very important part of the church then as we had choral evensong Monday to Friday with choir practice after Tuesday and Thursday, three choral services on Sundays, Communion Morning and Evensong, and we received an extra bob (shilling, 5p) for choral weddings or funerals on Saturdays.
We even sang hymns to the burial with some and remember being very nervous singing solo in church.
I walked straight from school (St Paul’s near central station, they paid bus money but that was perks, 1p) to St Peter’s church hall where they served us sit-down tea with scrumptious cakes, and played football in St Peter’s vacated school playground until the service, the school was later demolished to make way for Maples.
My wife and I were also married in St Peter’s Church in 1948 (64 wonderful years now) and as I was a choirboy there they gave us a marvellous choral wedding.
My brother Harold’s memorial cross is with others near the front gate.
He was a 21 year old pilot shot down and killed in action over Anzio in Italy during the war.
Sad, but mostly fond memories of the church.
KEN ADAMS, Glen Road, Parkstone, Poole
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here