Professor Maurice Merrell, DLitt, DMus, FGMS, FCCM, FISOB, FSCO, FIGOC, FGCO, FNSCM, HonFASC, HonFNCM, MNCMSoc, FMCM, FRSA, FWOU, FEAU, CompCIL, Emeritus Fellow and Leonard Henderson Memorial Professor of Organology at European-American University, died on 28 May 2025 aged 89.

Maurice Edward Merrell was born in February 1936. He was both an organist and an organ builder. In 1951, aged sixteen, he was apprenticed to the organ builders Bishop and Sons under the late Miss Hilda Mary Suggate, and after some time dealing with their business in the Midlands and Wales took over as London Manager at their premises in Beethoven Street in Queen’s Park. After Miss Suggate died, he became Principal of Bishop and Sons and completed seven decades with the company, retiring in 2022. He was a Fellow of the Incorporated Society of Organ Builders, also serving on the Society’s Council. It could truly be said that there was nothing concerning the construction of pipe organs with which he was not familiar, and he subsequently trained several generations of apprentices. Even in advanced years he would still be found clambering around in organ lofts and ensuring that the instruments were maintained in good order.

He served as organist of St George’s Church, Bloomsbury, for over thirty years, also being a Churchwarden and Treasurer there. He had previously been appointed as organist of St James, Bermondsey, at the age of fourteen, and then moved to St Peter, Islington. He was an able improviser and could effectively evoke the style of Howells. He was president of the London Organists’ Guild.

He was also active in the Church Lads’ Brigade, where he was an instructor and held the rank of captain.

Maurice was always ready to give his support to societies of musicians. He was a founder member and served on the Council of the Guild of Musicians and Singers for three decades, eventually becoming Master of the Guild. He was also a founding Fellow of the British Academy of Music and the Faculty of Church Organists. As a Fellow, he gave his support to the Institute of Arts and Letters, London, and was also a Fellow of the Curwen College of Music, where he was Hon. Treasurer. He was President of the Society of Crematorium Organists.

He received honorary Fellowships from the National College of Music and the Academy of St Cecilia, was elected to the Fellowship of the Metropolitan College of Music for distinguished service to music, and in 2003 received the degree of Doctor of Music from St Katharine’s Institute, Wyoming, USA, on the basis of his service to music. He was appointed a Companion of the Central Institute, London, and received the knighthood of the International Knightly Order Valiant of St George in a ceremony at Rochester Cathedral.

Maurice in 2008 wearing his DMus robes

On 21 November 2015 there was a Presentation Lunch in his honour at the Civil Service Club in which he received the degree of Doctor of Letters of the Western Orthodox University and was appointed Emeritus Fellow and Leonard Henderson Memorial Professor of Organology at European-American University, reflecting his long and distinguished  service to the musical profession.

Maurice and I at the 2015 presentation lunch at the Civil Service Club

At the meetings of the societies with which he was involved, Maurice was notable for his depth of knowledge, friendliness and considerable social skills. He was a great conversationalist, and would make time to speak with everyone. With his optimistic attitude and sound foundations in the Church, he was a reassuring and respected presence who maintained the highest of standards in dress and deportment. In the nearly thirty years that I knew him he did not seem to change at all. He was also a pipe smoker, and at the various society meetings would join others outside the church in question for a smoking break and conversation. His contributions to the Guild meetings in the form of addresses on musical matters were always interesting and often included moments of humour.

Maurice was unmarried and lived in a flat near Regent’s Park. He suffered a stroke in 2020 which marked a significant deterioriation in his health, but continued to be involved with the work of Bishop and Sons and his musical institutions. He will be much missed, since he was a pillar of this particular corner of the musical world and a gentleman of the old school.