Vanbrugh Castle School

Biographical Information of Peter Lyons taken from Wikipedia

Peter Lyons (musician)

Born : 6 December 1927
Died : 28 November 2006
Nationality : British
Education : Alleyn's School, Rossall School, Alma mater St John's College, Cambridge (MA)
Spouse(s) : Bridget Webb-Jones, daughter of James William Webb-Jones (m.1957)
Peter Lyons (6 December 1927 - 28 November 2006) was an English chorister and choral conductor.



Contents

1. Early life
2. Career
3. Marriage
4. References

Early life

Lyons was educated at Alleyn's School, Rossall School, and St John’s College, Cambridge, where he read Modern Languages and was a distinguished member of the Choir of St John's College, Cambridge under Robin Orr.[1][2]
After Cambridge, he joined the Royal Corps of Signals and boxed for the British Army.[3][4]
At Alleyn’s School he formed what would become a lifetime friendship and collaborative partnership with John Lanchbery, who would become Principal Conductor of the Royal Ballet from 1959 to 1972, and became friends with Kenneth Spring, co-founder of the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain.[5][6]
He was able to sing counter-tenor until his twenties and was described as a ‘forerunner of Callas' whilst at Rossall.[7] He was broadcast on the BBC on 8 February 1944.[8]

Career

Lyons was :[9]
Chorister of the Choir of St John's College, Cambridge 1948-1950.
Director of Music, Royal Naval College, Greenwich, 1950–54
Director of Music, Vanbrugh Castle School, 1950-54[10]
Master of the Choristers, Wells Cathedral and Director of Music and Deputy Headmaster, Wells Cathedral School, 1954-1960
Headmaster, Witham Hall School, 1961-1989.
Witham Hall School flourished under his leadership, the number of pupils increasing from 20 at the time at which he started to 150 by the time he retired.[11] There is a school house at Witham Hall, Lyons, named after him and his wife.[12]
During his retirement, Peter became a leading member of the Young Musicians Support Group, part of the Dartington Hall Trust.[13] He was a member of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the Jesters Cricket Club.[14]

Marriage

He married Bridget Webb-Jones (b. 5 September 1937), daughter of James William Webb-Jones, Headmaster of St George's School, Windsor Castle, and Barbara Moody, daughter of Colonel Richard Stanley Hawks Moody CB, at Wells Cathedral on 31 July 1957,[15][16] The couple had 2 daughters and 1 son. Bridget Lyons's godmother was was Lady Walford Davies, wife of composer Sir Henry Walford Davies KCVO OBE, who was Master of the King's Music from 1934 until 1941, and later wife of Julian Harold Legge Lambart, Vice-Provost of Eton College.

References

[1] Register of Twentieth Century Johnians, Volume I, 1900-1949. St John's College, Cambridge.
[2] Obituary, Rutland and Stamford Mercury, Friday, April 20, 2007.
[3] Register of Twentieth Century Johnians, Volume I, 1900-1949. St John's College, Cambridge.
[4] Obituary, Rutland and Stamford Mercury, Friday, April 20, 2007.
[5] Obituary, Rutland and Stamford Mercury, Friday, April 20, 2007.
[6] Alleyn's in the 1940s, Susannah Schofield, Archives of Alleyn's School, Dulwich.
[7] Archives of Alleyn's School, 'Rossall Reminiscences', Jim French.
[8] Alleyn's in the 1940s, Susannah Schofield, Archives of Alleyn's School, Dulwich.
[9] Register of Twentieth Century Johnians, Volume I, 1900-1949. St John's College, Cambridge.
[10] Electoral Registers for Vanbrugh Castle. Electoral Register
[11] Obituary, Rutland and Stamford Mercury, Friday, April 20, 2007.
[12]Witham Hall