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Worcester Festival Choral Society was sad to learn of the death on Sunday 19 April of Ian Bell, who was for many years a bass Lay Clerk of Worcester Cathedral.  He also sang alongside Worcester Festival Choral Society in last December’s Christmas Concert Extravaganza, memorably leading the moving, hummed introduction to Stille Nacht.

Peter Nardone, Organist and Director of Music of Worcester Cathedral and Conductor of Worcester Festival Choral Society, circulated the following announcement:

'It is with deep sadness that I record the death of Lay Clerk, Ian Bell.

For some time Ian and his close colleagues and friends have been living with the knowledge of his terminal illness and after a period in hospital over Easter he was transferred to St Richard's Hospice where he died peacefully late last night.

During yesterday afternoon many of the Lay Clerks gathered to sing to him, a deeply fitting gesture encouraged and appreciated by Ian's family members who, together with Canon Michael and Stephen Shellard, were by Ian's side for most of the day.

We have lost a dear colleague and friend.'

Worcester Festival Choral Society would like to offer condolences to Ian's family, colleagues and friends.

[Photo used by kind permission of JDA Media]