Malcolm Cottle
18 August 1940 - 6 December 2014

On Saturday December 6th 2014, Malcolm Cottle, our Director of Music for the prior 25 years, died peacefully, but suddenly. In his years with us, Malcolm took the choir from a a group of 5/6 singers nervously singing, always supported by the organ, to what we are today. His musicianship was truly astounding, able to pick out and sing a note from any line (inc Soprano!) when we went wrong and then go back to singing whatever his own line might be on that occasion. He taught us all so much and was never phased by our regular moaning and bad tuning - usually ignoring it -- until we could all continue with the intrinsic part of a good Catholic choir -- the decant to the pub!
A great friend to us all -- we will miss him terribly.

Malcolm's career started as a chorister of St. Paul's Cathedral and he sang at the Coronation in 1953. For over 35 years he was Musical Director of the North London Progressive Synagogue. Malcolm had been Chorus Master of Hatfield Philharmonic Chorus and worked with New Opera Company, Beaufort Opera and Orpheus Opera. In 1966 he founded and remained conductor of the London Concord Singers and was also Assistant Musical Director of Aylith Choral Society. He was appointed Director of Music at St. Mary's in 1989.

Malcolm's funeral service was held at St Mary's in a church packed by family and friends. A choir of around 40 people, combining the resources of both St Mary's Latin Mass Choir and the London Concord Singers, sang Vittoria's 'Missa pro defunctos' and a number of other motets in a fine send-off for such a great musician.

Rest in peace, Malcolm -- and keep the Choir up there on their toes !
With love

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