Organist calls it a day after 80 years

However, 80 years on and only now has he decided to retire from duties at St Augustine’s Church, Thorpe Bay.

Mr Knill, 92, said: “To be honest I did not want to learn the organ, but I had a very strict father, who played the violin, and made me learn the piano when I was just five.

“We had a harmonium at home as well and when I was taken to church, I always admired the chap sat up the front with all the pipes around him.”

Mr Knill, of St Augustine’s Avenue, Thorpe Bay, is calling it quits in November after starting at the chuch in 1946.

Despite not originally wanting to play the organ, he has grown to love the music.

He said: “During my time I’ve greeted eight new vicars to the church.

“My favourite composer of organ music has to be JS Bach but I also like Noel Rawsthorne, who I think is still alive.

“I cannot stand modern music, not modern classical music, but pop music.”

Mr Knill was born in Muswell Hill, North London, but moved to the Southend area in 1928, aged nine.

He studied the organ under the organist at St Mary’s Church, Prittlewell, and left school in 1938 to join a bank.

At the outbreak of the Second World War a year later, his fledgling banking career got him into the Army Pay Corp.

He was posted to the Midlands and spent time playing the organ in Leicester Cathedral.

He married his wife Margaret in July 1943 and enjoyed a five-day honeymoon.

However, they then faced a two-and-a-half year separation while he served with the Army in Egypt.

Victor retired in 1979, aged 60, which gave him the opportunity to devote more time to studying the organ, this time under Dr Harry Gabb, at St Paul’s Cathedral, London.

He added: “Sadly, Margaret died in 2005 but it was not a bad innings at 62 years married. Now I think I should retire because I’m getting a bit worn around the edges.”

Mr Knill has three children and one grandchild.

He has played to congregations in cathedrals at St Albans, Guildford, Bury St Edmunds, Rochester and Southwark.