Sunday 8th October will see a very special Evensong, at St Giles’ Church, to say farewell to Choirmaster John Miley who is retiring after twenty-six continuous years of dedicated musical service. During that time John has been Choirmaster, and music tutor, to some ninety-two boys, nineteen girls, nine women, and thirty-two men. Eleven different organists have assisted him.

Now we are faced with the very real and difficult task of replacing him.

Some of our younger choristers, and organists, have moved on to sing or play in prestigious venues, and we can count several nationally and internationally known musicians amongst their number. Others now play regularly at various churches, cathedrals, and abbeys, around the country. Most are happily settled in a wide range of professions, and one was recently ordained priest.

The choir of St Giles’ has sung services a total of twenty-eight times in cathedrals across the land and have sometimes taken up a week’s residence in a venue.

Possibly the greatest honour came in 1982 when invited to be part of the choir at the British Legion Royal Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in the presence of the Royal Family and government ministers of the day. The event was broadcast on televisions across the world and an audio recording made.

Of course, it was not all music all the time. As the photograph reveals there was a St Giles’ football team that participated in a regular fixture list in those days. The choir also enjoyed trips out to many places over the years and these included, more recently, the

London  Eye and joining the crowds alongside the Thames as the Millennium was celebrated.

Also organised by John were the many choral and instrumental concerts in St Giles’ Church that introduced new faces and new talent to a wider audience.

Whenever the choirs of the URC and St Giles’ came together the result was a joy to hear.

In addition to John’s musical life his work as a professional engineer provided additional scope for making some remarkable contributions to the community life of many areas in northwest

London, and the careers and ambitions of many young people. Whether it be a contribution to music on a national scale, at work in a nuclear power station, helping to develop Neighbourhood Engineers groups, and activities, in several schools, or his charity work, John’s credo can best be expressed as giving time, care, and encouragement, to all in his charge.

Of course there were also the annual Choir Christmas Carol singing trips to Trafalgar Square where a lot of money was raised for good causes. Additionally, there was the television recording session, in church, for the Sky Biography Channel and the request from the Daily Mail Charity to sing carols outside the houses of the rich and famous in London.

From Advent 1999 through the Millennium Year John masterminded a video recording that charted all the major events in the life of St Giles’ Church during those twelve months. Copies were reproduced and sold at the Christmas Market 2000 as a church fundraiser. 

In other years John arranged the production and sale of St Giles’ men’s ties, and a number of members of the congregation continue to wear them to this day.

Some years ago, around 1984, John was ‘instrumental’ in the replacing of St Giles’ Church Manders pipe organ and replacing it with an Allen digital instrument. An upgraded model replaced this one some years later, and the Manders organ was sold on to another Church.

Regrettably space is too confined to detail all of John’s many attributes and achievements, or to name the many people whom he has helped to go on to greater things. All we can say is a sincere THANK YOU JOHN, and wish you happiness in what is bound to be an action packed retirement. We all ask God to bless you further as you have blessed us by your example, commitment, and sheer hard work.

We hope to see you back in St Giles’ from time to time. It has been a privilege knowing you.

After John’s final October Evensong there is to be a celebratory farewell party for him in St Giles’ Church Hall. The venue is expected to be packed out with well-wishers, and friends, both past and present.

Editor