I think I was about 6 years old when I was asked to join the choir [at Ayot St Peter’s Church] I think that was the beginning of my mishaps […]

[…]

When still early Autumn and quite bright no lamps were lit and when the last hymn was given out it began to darken and the hymn “The people that in darkness sat” had hardly begun when it became quite dark and no-one could read their books. It struck me as funny and I began to giggle […] The Rector turned round and called out “Cecil, leave the choir” […] He told me I should blow the organ for the next few Sundays, also for the choir practice, as a punishment. I wasn’t very pleased as the organist needed a lot of wind to play the organ. […]

[I got in trouble again] All went well until about the hymn before the sermon, I don’t know if I was wool gathering, but I stopped pumping the organ and there was an almighty groan from the organ, that pulled me to my senses and I pumped for dear life. It was too late, however, and I had another telling off, this time from the Rector’s wife. Things were a bit quiet after that and I was allowed back in the choir.