Prince of pipes... John’s 20-year cathedral quest
PENSIONER John Richards has completed his 20-year quest to play all of Britain’s cathedral organs.
The retired taxman, 75, set a record on Thursday on the 94th instrument with his rendition of Auld Lang Syne in Inverness.
Trained on the piano as a child, he never had lessons on the organ but has spent decades performing for worshippers in church.
He took up the cathedral challenge encouraged by wife Lyn, 72 and it started with an invitation from the Duke of Marlborough to play the historic 19th century Willis organ on a trip to Blenheim Palace, in Woodstock, Oxfordshire.
Other highlights include tea with fellow organist and ex-prime minister Sir Ted Heath in 1999 after playing at Salisbury Cathedral.
As for his favourite organ, he picked St Paul’s Cathedral which has five keyboards and “basically plays itself”.
John, from Cardiff, said: “It’s been a tremendous journey.”