ONE of the country's foremost organists will be giving a special recital in Tenbury this weekend.

Roger Judd is still giving recitals both at home and abroad despite approaching the age of eighty, and will be performing at Tenbury's St Michaels church at 11am on October 12 as part of the St. Michaels music and events programme.

In January 1973, Mr Judd became master of music at what was then the “old” St Michaels College when it was a choir school. These were the days when the choir could be heard singing evensong on the radio regularly and were making highly saleable LPs that are still sought after.

Vice-chair of the parochial church council Tony Penn and his wife, Janet, have recently celebrated 60 years in the parish and Mr Judd has been a friend for 51 of those years. He believes he got to know them over a pint in the delightful village “Dog House” pub. This is sadly no more but is still missed as it was more like the local club and very popular.

For the last 23 years of his career, Mr Judd was organist at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle and, as a consequence, had much to do with royal occasions.

Retirement in 2008 brought him and his wife Alison back to the Hereford area. Inevitably this resulted in re-establishing a link with St Michael's and the then organist and master of a newly formed church choir. He is now acting usical director and organist emeritus at St Michael's which now has a choir numbering 16 singing twice a month.

Many organists including the well-known American Carlo Curly have occupied the tiny organ loft, attracted by the incredible acoustics of the church. However, the even bigger attraction is the organ itself, a famous Father Willis, of which Mr Judd is ridiculously fond.

All are invited to turn up to the church on Saturday to celebrate his 51-year association with the church of St Michael with the master himself.