Graham Rogers 2

Equally sparkling were the resident priests:

Fr. J.E.J. Berry (John) Berry, who breezed me through French A level, baptized me into classical music (reluctantly on his part into contemporary classical music) with an occasional nod to the wine bottle, and launched the original war on terror on the squash court, against ..X .. (see below).

Bless him, one night in 1965 he took a couple of us in his car to an exceedingly elegant manor house in Shropshire to attend a private concert recital by classical guitarist John Williams. No amplification, just solo guitar in front of only 20-30 or so people. I was mesmerized and enthralled by the music, and never learned how Jejb had acquired access to such rarefied circles.

I loved him also because, on those rare occasions when he was in the mood, he would play the grand cathedral-type organ in the ante-room of the main chapel, and set it roaring thunderously. His glorious sounds would shake the very walls of St. Hugh’s ancient towers.