Gerald David Burton
BA, MSc (Econ)
1944–2008
Co-founder of the St Hugh Singers

The Cathedral Church of St Andrew in Wells

Service of Thanksgiving
for the life of

Gerald David Burton
1944–2008

Monday 10 November 2008
2.00 p.m.

Welcome
The Chancellor

Hymn

Angel-voices ever singing round thy throne of light, angel-harps for ever ringing, rest not day nor night; thousands only live to bless thee and confess thee Lord of might. Thou who art beyond the farthest mortal eye can scan, can it be that thou regardest songs of sinful man? can we know that thou art near us, and wilt hear us? yea, we can. For we know that thou rejoicest o’er each work of thine; thou didst ears and hands and voices for thy praise design;

craftsman’s art and music’s measure for thy pleasure all combine. In thy house, great God, we offer of thine own to thee; and for thine acceptance proffer all unworthily hearts and minds and hands and voices in our choicest psalmody. Honour, glory, might and merit thine shall ever be, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, blessèd Trinity. of the best which thou hast given earth and heaven render thee.

Introduction
The Chancellor

We meet in the name of Jesus Christ, who died and was raised to the glory of God the Father. Grace and mercy be with you.
All   And also with you.

Father in heaven, we praise your name for all who have finished this life loving and trusting you, for the example of their lives, the life and grace you gave them, and the peace in which they rest. We praise you today for your servant Gerald and for all that you did through him. Meet us in our sadness and fill our hearts with praise and thanksgiving, for the sake of our risen Lord, Jesus Christ.
All  Amen.

Anthem

Great Lord of Lords, supreme immortal King,
O give us grace to sing
Thy praise, which makes earth, air, and heaven to ring.

O Word of God, from ages unbegun,
The Father’s only Son,
With Him in power, in substance, Thou art one.

O Holy Ghost, Whose care doth all embrace,
Thy watch is o’er our race,
Thou Source of Life, Thou Spring of peace and grace.

One living Trinity, One unseen Light,
All, all is Thine, Thy light
Beholds alike the bounds of depth and height. Amen.

Text: H.R. Bramley 1833–1917
Music: Charles Wood 1866–1926

New Testament Reading
Colossians 3: 12–17
Dr Anthony Crossland
former Cathedral Organist & Master of the Choristers

Hymn

Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices, who wondrous things hath done, in whom his world rejoices; who from our mother’s arms hath blessed us on our way with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today. O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us, with ever joyful hearts and blessèd peace to cheer us;

and keep us in his grace, and guide us when perplexed, and free us from all ills in this world and the next. All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given, the Son, and him who reigns with them in highest heaven, the One eternal God, whom earth and heaven adore; for thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore. Amen.

Tribute
Dr Robin Rees

THE Line to heaven by Christ was made, With heavenly truth the Rails are laid; From Earth to Heaven the Line extends To Life Eternal where it ends. So begins The Spiritual Railway, an epitaph in the south porch of Ely Cathedral. Yes, life is sometimes likened to a journey, but let me tell you instead of some events that took place around train journeys that Gerald and I made together in the course of our 40-year friendship. We first met on Ealing Broadway station one autumn morning in 1968. The fact that we spoke to each other at all is highly unusual for commuters, but, even more remarkably, we discovered we were both students at London University’s Bedford College. During that first journey, through Paddington and on to Baker Street, it became clear that there was another link between us, one that was to prove decisive: we shared a deep interest in church music. Having attended a summer course run by the Royal School of Church Music at Lincoln Cathedral, I thought that this was something that Gerald might well enjoy, so in 1975 he came too. During the week’s course we had the privilege of singing the services in the cathedral. The fact that the sopranos and altos were all teenage girls was, I have to say, not entirely a disincentive either. Gerald and I attended the Lincoln course for about ten years, and each year we would meet at King’s Cross station before taking wine with our three-course lunch on the journey north. One year, on our return to King’s Cross, Gerald, I and a large number of the girls sang on the platform – symbolically and very loudly – the Dismissal from the Rose Responses. In 1979, Gerald and I founded a group which meets for one or two weekends a year to deputise for cathedral choirs. Since most of its founding members had attended the Lincoln course, we called the group The St Hugh Singers in honour of St Hugh of Lincoln. Over the years, the group has sung in 34 cathedrals, and celebrates its 30th anniversary at York next year. A month or so before each weekend we would travel, usually by train, to visit a member of the cathedral clergy, and discuss every conceivable detail of each service, so as to avoid our being caught out by some subtle local variation during the actual service. Each cathedral assumed it was self-evident that there was only one valid interpretation of the rubric – theirs. This of course was rarely the case, and our questioning sometimes had to verge on interrogation in order to elicit the answers we were seeking. Indeed on at least three occasions we arrived for our weekend at the cathedral to find that the member of clergy whom we had met only two months earlier had in the meantime moved on to another appointment. Was it something we said?... One such exploratory trip was to Ely, where we first saw the epitaph I mentioned earlier. It was on an incredibly cold January day in 1985, and it seemed even colder inside the cathedral than outside. To pass the time on the journey back to Liverpool Street – and to take our minds off the cold – we made our own selections for the radio programme Desert Island Discs. Unfortunately our choice of records has been lost in the mists of time. [To top of next column]

However, I do recall that when it came to our choice of book, we both felt we could do a lot worse than the English Hymnal – though it had to be the 1933 edition! – or the Savoy Operas of W. S. Gilbert, as so many of life’s issues are addressed within those volumes. One May weekend in 1982 Gerald and I had been invited to stay with friends in Taunton. When we met on the Friday morning at Paddington, he told me that he had just heard that his mother had been found dead at her home. For anyone this would be a time of great sadness, but I sensed that this was in some way overwhelmingly so for Gerald. In the spring of 1987 I saw advertised in Church Times a vacancy for a Vicar Choral here at Wells, and suggested that Gerald apply. It is probably fair to say that in more senses of the word than one his application was successful. I always enjoyed my visits to him at Wells in general and at Vicars’ Close in particular – so much more appropriate for someone like him than his former flat in central London. In recent years we enjoyed travelling on two nearby preserved railways. One was the East Somerset: I remember the glee in Gerald’s voice when telling me that, until the line’s closure in the 1960s, it used to run through Wells and down to Witham where, 800 years earlier, St Hugh (to whom our singing group is dedicated) had been Prior. The other was the West Somerset Railway, to the seaside at Minehead, rekindling memories of the summer holidays of our childhood. In describing these train journeys that Gerald and I made, I have said nothing about his personality: his gentle modesty and quiet acts of kindness. For both my weddings I asked him to be best man, and I was not disappointed – especially when it came to his speech. When I married Helen four years ago, who but Gerald, with a totally dead-pan expression on his face, would dare to say: This is the right age for Robin to marry, whilst he has the wisdom of youth and the energy of old age. Having mentioned the Savoy Operas and English Hymnal, let me close by quoting from them. On at least one occasion Gerald played the part of Colonel Fairfax in The Yeomen of the Guard. In the light of Gerald’s early death, Fairfax’s words take on a new poignancy: Is life a boon?    If so, it must befall,    That Death, whene’er he call, Must call too soon. Yet I am reminded that, whenever things got difficult, Gerald would say: Plough on regardless. If we take that as an encouragement to us as well as to himself, I think Gerald would approve of a similar sentiment expressed by Percy Dearmer in the final verse of his hymn Jesus, good above all other: Lord, in all our doings guide us; Pride and hate shall ne’er divide us; We’ll go on with thee beside us,    And with joy we’ll persevere!

Hymn

Tribute
Mrs Angela Harris

GERALD, MY BROTHER Gerald was born in Hull to find that he had an older brother, Roger and a much older half-brother, Geoffrey. His annoying sister would come along later. He attended a church school and passed his scholarship to Hymers College at age 11. He studied science in the V1th Form but did not want to continue with science even in “the new scientific age”. He went to work in the printing trade. Our parents ran a shop and Gerald had a heavy old printing press there with which he printed small items. After a brief stay in London he returned to Hull to complete more “A” levels including languages as he decided to go to university after all. He entered Bedford College, London University to study Dutch Language and Literature. This was followed by 2 years at the London Business School, Regents Park, where he gained an MSc in Economics (Business Studies), nowadays an MBA. After the Business School he worked as a corporate banker at National and Grindlays Bank in Fenchurch Street. He decided that wasn’t for him and he started his own printing business. In 1974 he bought a small flat in one of the elegant white terraces in London W2. He had many visitors who used to “do London” from there. He developed a sideline in translating from Dutch to English. This grew and eventually he gave up the printing to concentrate on his new career of translating – at first by fax and then by email. Gerald was involved with music for all of his life, learning to play the piano as a young boy and singing in the school and church choirs. His first piano teacher was Miss Footey about whom he used to giggle and say that she put flour on her face instead of face powder. He learned the ’cello from a kindly man called John Keenan and befriended him and his wife. His music teacher at Hymers College was Graham Watson and Gerald visited him over the years. Graham Watson and Ron Styles also taught him the organ. Our church choirmaster, with the illustrious name of Albert Hall, also taught Gerald piano and organ. Starting as a choirboy at St. Mary’s Lowgate in Hull Gerald sang in choirs ever since. He played the organ at St Saviour’s in Hull where the vicar happened to be Dutch. (Latterly of course he played the organ at churches near Wells.) On moving south he was recruited to play the organ at Ealing Green Church and later at other churches in central London. He joined the London Chorale and thus began his many foreign trips with choirs. Music is a great social engine and he took advantage of this, singing in many venues and countries. Gerald sang with many choirs and later operatic groups and sang solo parts in choral works. His commitment to the choir in this Cathedral lasted for 10 years, the last few of those years as Vicar Principal, a post he held with skill and diplomacy, I gather. He had his parallel careers of translating and music. He would try to reduce his translation work but people always came back to him as he was reliable and accurate. He never knew what would come his way – legal and technical material, and he had to learn about many subjects. But that was partly why he liked it. He always had a thirst for knowledge and was an avid reader. He wrote a guide to translating Dutch which is to be published soon and he has collaborated with his Dutch friend Aart in creating a Legal Lexicon – many hours of work and many phone calls. Gerald delighted in languages – English, Dutch and more. Last February he was pleased to have a witty little letter on comparatives published in the Telegraph. He wrote a pamphlet called “Cloth Ears: the destruction of English” subtitled “Don’t mess with my language.” This makes interesting reading, bemoaning the fact that we don’t use English properly, including me! His mother used to tell the story that when he was 6 years old a fellow train passenger tried and failed to catch him out with difficult spellings and she had been unaware of the extent of his skill. Family and friends were important to him. He played the organ at family weddings and sang at our wedding. He related well to the young and the not so young and made friends of all ages. [To top of next column]

I learned recently that he took part in soirées for special birthdays, making music as part of these evenings. Last year the second of our cousins’ reunions took place, this time organised by Gerald here in Wells. Who could forget his witty and superbly timed speech? He was a dutiful and kind godfather to Stacey – he related well to children, playing imaginative games with them when their parents had lost interest and I have learned that he would take children on the big fairground rides when their parents opted out. Gerald was pleased to move to Wells and enjoyed his life here. When first shown the Cathedral and Vicars’ Close he said to himself, “I want this job” – and he got it. As well as travelling with choirs he had holidays with family and friends – to Japan twice with his brother and sister-in-law, to Australia and New Zealand with me and to other places here and abroad. He visited 21 countries at least. Genealogy was a big interest and he researched our 4 family trees. His interest started with a small collection of family silver and as a teenager he annotated the church registers at St Mary’s Church in Hull. His searches took him to several counties and he discovered sites such as a fortified manor house, connections to Charlotte Bronte and coastguards in Devon. He met distant relatives, historians and authors sometimes by walking into pubs and asking! That was of course the only reason he went into pubs! He asked me to publish the family trees and that is a promise that I will fulfil. Gerald’s wit is remembered by many – his asides in choir practice, his superb best man’s speech for Robin and Helen, his quips on postcards and “Gerald jokes” some of which are on the website. Gerald wrote some memoirs and although unfinished I did find the beginnings of “100 oddities of Gerald’s life”. Here are three of them: I once saw a cricketer who played in the same side as W.G. Grace. I can type faster than anyone I know. [True]. I am excellent at reading upside down. [The text!] I can add that as a boy he took a garden spade to dig on the beach on our seaside holidays. He never did anything by halves. Finally, to some comments that people have written about Gerald: [From a cousin],“I will remember Gerald for his dry wit and his teenage attempt to read a dictionary to improve his vocabulary!” “Dependable, always good company.” “He took the high spirits of the choral scholars in his stride and we were very fond of him”. [From New Zealand] “The good times we had in his company”. “We remember a recital when he sang Songs of Travel by Vaughan Williams. It was wonderful.” “ A kind and good person with a propensity for giggling”. “I much admired his marvellous voice”. “Gerald’s sharp and creative mind”. “ A real Englishman but affected by the Dutch language and style of life”. “Direct about his wishes but in a polite way”. “Sense of humour, personal warmth and friendship”. “He always seemed content with his life.” “His self-effacing manner, team spirit and droll sense of humour.” “Such a full life.” From New Zealand “Only Gerald could relate a joke so well, with his dry humour, clever wit and excellent brain”. “A very kind and special person”. [From our cousin in Canada] “Academic, musician, traveller, translator, fun-loving wit.” [And from America] “He was trustworthy to the core and had a purity of heart that made me feel very much at ease”. This weekend candles have been lit in memory of Gerald in Notre Dame Cathedral, and in Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand, Holland, Australia, Canada and the Czech Republic. Thank you.

Anthem

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of Heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Text: Revelation 21
Music: Edgar Bainton 1880–1956

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Prayers
The Chancellor

Merciful Father and Lord of all life, we praise you that we are made in your image and reflect your truth and light. We thank you for the life of your son Gerald, for the love he received from you and showed among us. We thank you for his delight in music, for his friendship, his love and for all that he will always mean to us. Above all, we rejoice at your gracious promise to all your servants, living and departed, that we shall rise again at the coming of Christ. And we ask that in due time we may share with our brother that clearer vision, when we shall see your face in the same Christ our Lord.
All  Amen.

O Lord Jesus Christ, whose birth was heralded by angels’ song and whose death for sinners is extolled by the music of heaven: grant that those who use voices and instruments which show forth your glory may also display in their lives that harmony which echoes your eternal praise; for your own name’s sake.
All  Amen.

Almighty God, thank you for this ancient place of prayer: for the faith that has blossomed here, and for the worship in all seasons offered here; for the lives that have been touched in this place and the commitment stirred into life here. As we build on the faith of those who have gone before us, and wonder about those who will come after us, bless all who come here, may your angels speak to us with the music of your love; for you are God of renewal and steadfastness, now and for ever.
All  Amen.

O Lord God, when thou givest to thy servants to endeavour any great matter grant us also to know that it is not the beginning, but the continuing of the same until it be thoroughly finished, which yieldeth the true glory; through him who for the finishing of thy work laid down his life for us, our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
All  Amen.

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray:

All  Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen.

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Commendation

Almighty God, in your great love you crafted us by your hand and breathed life into us by your Spirit. Although we became a rebellious people, you did not abandon us to our sin. In your tender mercy you sent your Son to restore in us your image. In obedience to your will he gave up his life for us, bearing in his body our sins on the cross. By your mighty power you raised him from the grave and exalted him to the throne of glory.

Rejoicing in his victory and trusting in your promise to make alive all who turn to Christ, we commend Gerald to your mercy, and we join with all your faithful people and the whole company of heaven in the one unending song of praise: glory and wisdom and honour be to our God for ever and ever.
All  Amen.

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Nunc dimittis
The choir

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word;
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples,
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost:
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen

Text: Luke 2: 29–32
Music: Collegium Regale, Herbert Howells 1892–1983

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Organ Voluntary
Nun danket alle Gott
Sigfrid Karg-Elert 1877–1933

During the voluntary, family and friends will process to the Camery Garden for the Interment of Ashes.

There will be a retiring collection for the Laura Crane Trust.