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Newspaper cutting possibly Essex County Standard or another local
Colchester paper.
This was found glued to the inside of the Service Sheet.
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Famous Choir`s last tribute
to Dr Wood
Members of the famous Fleet Street Choir paid a last tribute to the late
Dr. Thomas, Wood at the memorial service at Bures on Thursday when they
joined the local choir
in the choral service.
Among the special music sung by the Fleet Street Choir was "Comfort,','
one of Dr. Wood's , compositions.
Members of the numerous village societies with which Dr.Wood was associated
mingled with representatives of national associations and music colleges
at the service. Lining the path to the church were members of the Bures
and District British Legion and the Women's Legion, headed by their standard
bearers.
The standards were lowered as the coffin, covered with the Union Jack,
passed into the church through the flower lined porch.
Among the organisations representatives were the Ipswich Male Choir, Trinity
College of Music, Royal College of Music, Royal Academy of 'Music, "National
Brass Band Club, Royal Philharmonic Society, Colchester Rotary Club, Clare
Musical Festival. Sudbury and District Musical Society,' Bures Hamlet
Parish Council and Bures Football Club
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Cutting from unknown newspaper found glued
on the back page of the Service Sheet
DR. T. WOOD DIES SUDDENLY
He popularised "Waltzing Matida
Dr Thomas Wood, of Bures, the man who, when
his early ambition to enter the Navy was thwarted through bad eye-sight,
developed his great talent for music, died suddenly at his home, Parsonage
Hall, on Sunday.
As a composer and author, he was known the world over.
But in the area of the Essex-Suffolk border, where he made his home, he
was equally well-known for his numerous acts of kindness and for his good
works. He loved the countrysideb and did everything he could to develop
village life.
Dr. Wood's most recent composition was "The Rainbow" a work
for male voice choir and brass bands specially commissioned for the Festival
of Britain.
A week before his death he superintended a trial run at Covent Garden.
But perhaps his best-known work was the song which is now described as
the unofficial national anthem of Australia-"Waltzing Matilda"
a re-arrangement of a tune which he heard while on a visit to Australia
many years ago.
Born at Chorley, Lancashire, Dr, Wood intended to follow his father in
a career on the sea, but when this was denied him he went to Oxford, where
he developed a musical talent.
In August 1914, whilst at Exeter College, he volunteered for active service.
Although rejected on account of his eyesight, he was given a job at the
Admiralty. After the war having taken his M.A. and Mus.D. degrees, he
was appointed Director of Music at Tonbridge School and later was lecturer
and precentor at Exeter College, Oxford.
In 1924 he became associated with the Eastern Counties by his marriage
to Miss St. Osyth Mahala Eustace Smith, "Wormingford, well known
for her public and, charitable work in Essex and Suffolk. In later years
Dr. Wood travelled twice to Australia and the East and these journeys
resulted in delightful volumes of personal narrative under the titles
of "Cobbers," and "True Thomas."
FLAVOUR OF THE SEA
His chief musical works all had something to do with the sea, one being
'Merchantmen" for baritone solo, chorus and orchestra, performed
in 1937. Other important compositions, of which Dr. Wood produced at least
one almost every year, include "Forty- Singing Seamen," "
Master Mariners " and " A Seaman's Overture." He also 'composed
numerous works for voices and various instruments and comparatively recent
works were-" Over the Hills and Far Away," and "Chanti
leer"
Dr. Wood was connected with, numerous societies. He was chairman of the
Arts Council music panel and a member of its executive committee, president
of the Sudbury and District Musical Society, the Clare District Competitive
Festival Association, and the Ipswich Male Voice Choir. For many years
he had been, connected with the Fleet Street Choir, for whom he composed
two of his latest works, and he was a member' of the Royal Philharmonic
Society. He originated the Australian "Cobbers' Club " and was
No. 1 Cobber.
SPORTS GROUND GIFT
Keenly interested in ex-Service men, Dr Wood was president of Bures British
Legion. He was always assisting the village in every way possible. Recently
he presented, in conjunction with Col. G. O. C. Probert, a sports ground
of about five acres in the centre of the village, to the combined parishes
of Bures Hamlet and Bures St. Mary. This has been named St. Osyths Playing
Field.
Besides being a composer lie was a brilliant pianist and organist, and
each year just before Christmas, he conducted community singing of carols
at Bures, the proceeds being for some charitable or national object.
He was of a particularly friendly and humorous
disposition, and had a way of brightening up any ordinary business such
as those of the Parish Council, of which he was a member for many years.
Dr. Wood took a great- interest in the appearance of the village, and
was always endeavouring to have it made neat and attractive. A very generous
subscriber to any useful local scheme, he presented a new flag of St.
George to the parish church and had just promised a subscription of £100
towards the proposed addition of two bells to complete the octave in the
church tower. He had also undertaken to guarantee the full, cost of the
work (about £400) so that a start could be made immediately, as
it was hoped to have 10 full eight bells ringing for the Festival of Britain
celebrations.
Dr. Wood was interested in the past history of Bures, and in the people--especially
those who might be termed "characters" His interest in these
was practical in the event of help being needed.
He was instrumental in the formation of the local Home Guard, and was
its first leader. He was a keen and expert photographer and kept a pictorial
record of important village events. During the war he and Mrs Wood presented
an up-to-date fire engine and appliances to the village.
Among his hobbies, Dr. Wood gave "the making and keeping of friends."
In this he was supremely successful.
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