Hugh Turpin (M 83-13).

Michael Farrer (FS 81-88) (Organ Scholar 1987/88) has sent the following.

“I first got to know Mr Turpin around 1986. I have too many incredibly happy memories to mention, however, perhaps the most powerful was watching and listening to his genius perform ‘Islamey’ (Balakirev) at the start of a morning lesson. Hugh was a proud Yorkshire man, who worked to exacting standards, respected his environment very much, but had one characteristic which in many respects led to his success, his capability to ask, ‘Why Not?’. When others believed it was impossible - enter Hugh.

Leadership, the capacity to inspire others, to get involved and use their energy and skills to realise a vision, is something over the decades Hugh excelled at. Whatever challenge was presented, whether it was the Thanksgiving or Carol Services in the Priory or taking the choir to perform in a Cathedral or a summer concert, Hugh lived the predetermined mindset and utilised the resources to realise the limit, then extend it beyond what the team believed possible. The sound of the ‘Leighton Responses’ in Ripon Cathedral back in 1987 was electrifying.

A good leader is never critical. Hugh aligned to that thinking; if things didn’t realise the vision, he quickly understood why and shaped the next performance, ensuring that professionalism and learning was embedded into the team. Over his life he inspired scores of musicians. Around my own time I think there were at least six or seven pupils who were post Grade 8, of whom I know the Governors and the Headmaster were especially proud.

Although Hugh’s leadership was more than a force to be reckoned with, it would be fair to say that his management didn’t always quite align. On arriving in the department after playing for a chapel service, I recall that Hugh dashed into his office, grabbed a score and headed out at pace. About a second later the door reopened – ‘Ah, I forgot to tell you I’ve entered you for Grade 8’ - and off he went!!! I considered finding a date. I had about three, possibly four weeks. Hugh was puzzled – why was this a problem? I knew the Bach already and the other pieces were, in Hugh’s straight forward Yorkshire thinking, ‘Lollipops’. As always, he led from the front, sat at the chapel organ, sight read the lines, smiled, and reinforced the idea that all was pretty straight forward. There were those of more traditional lines who didn’t quite agree, however, with his guidance (and not forgetting the input of others) – I missed a distinction by only two marks. Hugh, never critical, raised an eyebrow, extinguished his mark 1 Marlboro, and proceeded to the Common Room on the upbeat – to share the news with a slightly enhanced optimism.

It was a privilege and an honour to have known Hugh, to have been his Organ Scholar – and to have learned and developed with the guidance of a leader and musician of such outstanding excellence.”

 

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