My father, Edward William, was born in Cranbrook, Kent, on 22 February 1906 (His father, Amos, was born in Lewes, East Sussex, England). He died aged 93, on 1st July 1999.

My mother, Edith, was born in Acton, London, on 29 December 1910. She died of cancer on 3 June 1979

My parents were married at Christ Church, Reading, Berkshire, on 29 July 1933.

In 1967 I was appointed organist and choirmaster at St. John's Church, Farnham Common, and presided over the design and installation of a new 2-manual pipe organ in the church in 1969, built by Robert Slater & Son. Click here for full specification. The Inaugural Recital was given by Philip Moore (who was by then sub-organist at Canterbury Cathedral). Myrtle was a member of the choir.

(Picture to left: John Blaber at the console on the dedication of the new organ at St John's Church, Farnham Common, October 1969. To the left is the Bishop of Buckingham, and on the right is Mr Edwin Charles Jubb, who paid for the organ, in memory of his wife, Emily).

I married Myrtle in St. John's, Farnham Common in February 1970.

(Photograph on the right shows Myrtle and myself, with the choir, after our wedding - note the snow!).

I was appointed organist and choirmaster of St. Mary's Parish Church, Slough, February 1976. St. Mary's is a very large church with a superb 3-manual Hill, Norman and Beard pipe organ with pneumatic action, originally built in 1912, but rebuilt with additional stops in 1968. Click here for full specification

(Photograph to the left: St Mary's Church. Slough).

I played this organ both on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Television. The church had an all-male choir at that time. During this period, I also played services at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, during summers when the resident organist and choir were on holiday.

(Photograph to the right: John Blaber at the console at St Mary's Slough in 1979).

1984 we moved to Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire, when I became Sales Manager of John Crane UK Ltd. in Wythenshawe, Manchester. I was appointed organist and choirmaster of the beautiful parish church of St. Mary's, Disley, Cheshire, where there was a lovely 3-manual mechanical action pipe organ, on the west end gallery, built originally by Samuel Renn in 1836. I had this organ rebuilt by Rushworth & Dreaper, Organ Builders from Liverpool. Work was completed in June 1985. Click here for full specification.

(Photograph to left: the organ at St. Mary's, Disley, taken after completion of the 1985 rebuild. The red pipeshades were also added, to match the beautifully carved wooden ceiling).