City organists
The Current City Organist
WILLIAM SAUNDERS
William Saunders is an acclaimed organist and musical entrepreneur, praised by Gramophone for his “rhythmic vitality” and by Organists’ Review for his “flawless” playing. He has performed widely across the UK and Europe, premiered new works, and recorded for Regent Records. In 2025, he was appointed Colchester City Organist, where he presides at the historic Moot Hall Organ for major civic occasions including the annual Mayor-Making ceremony and the Oyster Feast, as well as a wide range of cultural and community events. In demand as a performer and accompanist, William has collaborated with ensembles such as Kings Voices, London Voices, and Aldeburgh Voices, and has held posts at Edmundsbury Cathedral and Ipswich Minster. Alongside his performing career, he is also active in education and music leadership, committed to sharing the organ’s heritage and inspiring new generations of musicians.
Past Honorary Borough Organists
Ian Ray
Borough Organist 1988-2025
Ian Ray served as Colchester's Honorary Borough Organist from 1988 for thirty-three years, presiding at the Moot Hall organ for civic occasions including the Mayor-Making ceremony and the Oyster Feast, as well as a wide variety of cultural and community events. Working alongside Nigel and Mary Chapman, he played a leading role in the 2015 restoration of the organ and helped establish the current recital series, bringing many distinguished organists to perform in the city's historic Moot Hall.
Widely respected across East Anglia as an organist, conductor, pianist and singing coach, Ian has given recitals throughout the region and at London churches including St Martin-in-the-Fields, as well as directing performances in Prague, Reims, Rouen, Wetzlar and at Snape Maltings.
Appointed Director of Music at Lion Walk Church in 1969, he has maintained a flourishing choral tradition and developed its popular Wednesday lunchtime concert series. He lectured in music at Colchester Institute for over forty years, where he served as Head of Singing and directed more than thirty operas and musicals. Since 1976 he has also directed the Colchester Choral Society and the Colchester Sinfonia, bringing many distinguished soloists and musicians to the city while championing both established repertoire and new music, including works commissioned from composers such as Alan Bullard.
In recognition of his exceptional contribution to Colchester's musical life, Ian was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Essex in 2015.
Leonard Simpson
Borough Organist 1950–1988
Ian Leonard Simpson served as Colchester's Borough Organist from 1950 to 1988. Born in Dulwich in 1909, he moved to Colchester at the age of six and was educated at Hamilton Road Central School. He began learning the organ at St Leonard's Church, Lexden, laying the foundations for a lifetime of musical service to the town.
Alongside his musical career, Ian worked for Paxman Diesels, Colchester's largest employer, joining the company at the age of sixteen and spending his entire working life in the costs accounting department until his retirement in 1974. Although a member of the Royal College of Organists, he chose not to pursue its examination diplomas.
His first church appointment came in 1928 as organist of St Paul's Church. He later served at Culver Street Methodist Church for fourteen years, where he met his wife, Betty. Following his appointment as Borough Organist in 1950, he became organist of St Mary-at-the-Walls before later serving at Lion Walk Congregational Church, St Peter's Church, and finally the Garrison Church from 1977.
Throughout nearly four decades as Borough Organist, Ian Simpson became a central figure in Colchester's civic and musical life, faithfully serving the town through countless civic ceremonies and public occasions.
E H Turner
Borough Organist 1940-1950
Ian Ernie Turner served as Colchester's Borough Organist from 1940 to 1950. He gained his ARCO diploma in July 1911 and was organist of All Saints' Church, Colchester, from 1910 until 1932, before moving to St Nicholas-cum-St Runwald's Church in the High Street.
During the Second World War, Turner regularly played the Moot Hall organ to entertain troops stationed in the town. Among those who also gave performances were Leonard Simpson, who would succeed him as Borough Organist, and Desmond Pye, who later became a Patron of the Friends of the Moot Hall Organ.
During Turner's tenure, the Borough also benefited from the services of W. F. Kingdon, who is recorded as serving in 1949. A distinguished musician, Kingdon held the Fellowship diploma of the Royal College of Organists (1896) and a Bachelor of Music degree (1906). He had been both a friend and assistant to Sir Walter Alcock. After moving to Colchester around 1916, he served as organist of St Mary-at-the-Walls from the early 1920s until 1950. Although he occasionally deputised for Everett and Turner, Kingdon never officially held the title of Borough Organist. It also remains uncertain whether he was related to Edna May Kingdon, wife of the renowned organist Percy Whitlock.
W Christian Everett ARCO ARCM
Borough Organist 1904–1940
Ian Christian was appointed as Colchester's first Borough Organist in 1904 at the age of forty-four, having already played the newly installed Moot Hall organ on a number of occasions. He remained in the post for thirty-six years until his death on 6 February 1940, laying the foundations for a tradition of civic organ music that continues today.
He was awarded the Associateship of the Royal College of Organists (ARCO) in July 1894, one of just forty-four successful candidates from a field of 140. Affectionately known as "Billie", Christian became organist of Lion Walk Congregational Church in 1877, following two years at St Leonard-at-the-Hythe, and served the church faithfully until his death.
In addition to his work as a performer, Christian was also a composer. His works included a setting of The Lord's Prayer, which was performed at his funeral. He often acknowledged the influence of his teacher, Sir William Parry, whom he described as "one of the finest exponents of organ playing in the country." His long and distinguished career established the standard for those who would follow as Colchester's Borough Organists.