St Aidan. Sudden. Rochdale

St Aidan's Choir Director

 

MRS ELIZABETH MILNE, FLCM.

Elizabeth was born in Rochdale. She showed a keen interest in music from a very early age and had piano

and singing lessons. She was a member of Rochdale Pioneers Junior Choir and a chorister at All Saints Church,

Hamer.

After completing her education at Rochdale Grammar School, she went to Norwich Teacher Training College.

Her main subjects were music and art. It was here that she learned to play the organ. She became choirmistress

at a local country church,most of the choristers being fellow students.

On returning to Rochdale her first teaching post was at Tonacliffe Primary School.

As well as teaching she played the piano in a small dance band two or three evening a week in

various venues for ballroom dancing. At about the same time she became organist and choirmistress at

Christ Church, Healey where she met and married Roger who was a chorister.

After leaving Tonacliffe School, Elizabeth taught art at the William Skurr School (now renamed Beechwood)

and later piano with the Rochdale Music Service. She was organist and choirmistress for a short time at

St Anne's Church, Belfield and then at St Paul's Church, Norden before coming to St Aidan's Church in 1969.

During the 1970's she re-trained as a music and art therapist.and  worked in the psychiatric department at

Birch Hill Hospital, Rochdale and at Prestwich Psychiatric Hospital.

Elizabeth has a daughter, Marie, and two grandchildren,  who are all musical and she and Roger also have 2 Great Grandchildren, Maisie and Poppy


Elizabeth  and Roger have both retired but maintain a busy schedule performing  with various groups of singers

travelling abroad on singing trips and  going to music festivals, concerts and the theatre.

Elizabeth's other interests include amateur dramatics, crafts and flower arranging,  walking  and swimming.

Elizabeth was awarded MBE IN 2012

 

Updated 31 01 2015.

 

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