Glasgow organist's tribute to city's 850th anniversary

Glasgow Times

14-05-2025

'I'm his strongest critic,' she says, with a smile. 'And his biggest supporter. I'm very proud of him today - but I'm proud of him every day.'
On Wednesday (May 14) Bill marked more than 55 years of performing at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum with a special recital arranged for Glasgow 850, the city's year-long celebration of its 850th anniversary.
(Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)
'I did the organ recital for Glasgow 800 on May 14, 1975, and exactly 50 years to the day, I am doing it for Glasgow 850,' he says, proudly.
'It really is lovely, a real honour - and very good publicity for the organ and the city. Glasgow has the world's longest-running free daily organ recital and I'm very proud to be part of that.'
(Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)
Bill, who is now 76, started 'picking out tunes with his right thumb' on his mother's piano at the age of five. The family lived in Netherlee, and his mother was a gifted pianist who encouraged her son's love of playing.
'I got lessons at eight and that's when I realised what my other fingers were for,' he says, smiling.
'I liked the piano, but I was fascinated by the organ in my local church. I used to watch the organist in full flow, marvelling at the pedalling. I wanted a go at that….'
(Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)
He had his first organ lesson at the age of 12 and played his first church service six months later. As a teenager, he studied at Glasgow Cathedral with John Turner, who was the Cathedral's youngest-ever organist and is, Bill says, 'still going strong in his mid-80s.'
Bill's first recital in Kelvingrove was in 1969. He loves the museum's beautiful, complex Lewis pipe organ, which was built for the 1901 Glasgow International Exhibition and moved in to the museum's central hall the following year.
(Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)
'This organ is like an old friend,' he says, softly, demonstrating the vast array of pedals and stops in a quiet moment before the recital begins.
'It is capable of everything from a whisper to a roar. The acoustics in the building are wonderful, and wherever you are, in the side galleries, on the balconies, on the stairs, you can hear the music.'
(Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)
Music has always been 'a hobby and a passion' for Bill, whose day job was in financial services. He and Moira, who is also an accomplished organist, live in Paisley, and the couple have two sons and two grandchildren.
Over the years, a vast range of music has been played by the organists at Kelvingrove. In January 2016, Christopher Nickol's rendition of Life on Mars in tribute to David Bowie, following the singer's death earlier that day, was a hit on social media with millions of views in the space of a few hours.
'Some organists play classical music, others do contemporary, most do both,' says Bill. 'It's important to have a mix of the lighter pieces and the more stirring ones. The trick is to get the audience's attention early with something fast and exciting.'
He adds, smiling: 'You never know who is in the audience, either – multi-millionaire film producer Michael Mendelsohn popped in recently, because he was in the city filming with James McAvoy.'
(Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)
Lord Provost of Glasgow Jacqueline McLaren, who presented Bill with a commemorative plaque in recognition of his outstanding service, said: 'Bill's dedication to the world-famous organ recitals in Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum has enriched our city's cultural heritage and brought joy to countless visitors.
'His performances have become a favourite tradition and for some a happy introduction to the world of organ music, usually more associated with places of worship.
'This milestone is even more momentous as Bill took part in the Glasgow 800 celebrations. Today, fifty years on, we honour his commitment, exceptional service and his place as an integral part of Glasgow's vibrant cultural life."
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At the Glasgow 850 recital, busy with tourists and schoolchildren, the programme included A Glasgow Flourish, arranged by Bill and woven with familiar melodies linked to the city; Kelvingrove, a piece specially commissioned for Bill by his family and composed by John Barber, in honour of Bill's 50th anniversary of recitals at Kelvingrove in 2019; and the Finale from Sonata No. 4 by Alexandre Guilmant.
Bill has played organ recitals all over the country, but Kelvingrove will always have a special place in his heart.
'The audiences at Kelvingrove are what make it so wonderful,' says Bill.
'They're open to everything, from Bach to swing to the unexpected.'
He pauses.
'Although French avant-garde music does tend to be a little less well-received.'