Watson, Benjamin.

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Watson, Benjamin.

Watercolouur painting by John Sowden of Benjamin Watson, teacher of music and trainer of choristers. Born at Manningham, 1830.

from John Sowden's notebooks:

"Mr Watson, who was universally known as ‘Ben’ was by occupation of wool sorter, but he became widely known and respected for his musical abilities. He was a man of high and genial disposition and was very popular. He was the possessor, in his youth and middle life, of a beautiful alto voice. He began to sing as a boy in 1842 at the Bradford Parish Church and afterwards joined the St Paul's Church Choir and sang at Saint James’, Saint Jude's, and Saint John’s. He served as choirmaster at Heaton Church, Christ Church, Saint Andrew’s Church and at Bingley Parish Church; he was trainer of church and village choirs at Saint Mary's Laisterdyke, Baildon, Burley, Guiseley, Esholt, Keighley, Ingrow, Kildwick, Bingley, the Bradford Unitarian Chapel and Saint Anne’s and Saint Patrick's Roman Catholic churches in Bradford. He was one of the founders of the Bradford Musical Union and its conductor for over 20 years. On his retirement in 1875 the Union gave a benefit concert on his behalf and a sum of 200 guineas was presented to him.

As a festival singer Mr Watson had great experience. He was one of the contingent of the Bradford Festival Choral Society which sang before the late Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace and for many years sang in the Handel Festivals at the Crystal Palace and also at the festivals in Bradford, Leeds, Hereford, Gloucester, Worcester, Bristol and Birmingham. In 1880 Mr Watson conducted the singing of 15,000 Church School children in Manningham Park. He was a Freemason. Died in 1909 leaving three sons and three daughters."

Year

1890

Creator

John Sowden.

Image filename

sowden-143