Andrew Napier

MORE photographic treasures from the Hampshire Chronicle archive being looked after by Hampshire Cultural Trust at Bar End in Winchester

Winchester Cathedral announces appointment of Interim Musical Director Winchester Cathedral is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Lucas as Interim Director of Music who will step into the role held by Andy Lumsden who is leaving at the end of July. After twenty-two years of outstanding service, loyalty and dedication, Dr Andrew Lumsden will stand down as Director of Music at Winchester Cathedral on 31 July 2024. Dr Lumsden’s final services and events will include all this summer’s highlights such as the Southern Cathedrals Festival. Andrew Lucas is currently Master of the Music at St Albans Cathedral and will continue to direct the strong legacy of choral excellence while the recruitment process for a permanent Director of Music gets underway. He has held the post since 1998 and the Cathedral Choir has maintained a very strong reputation including through recordings and regular radio and television broadcasts. The St Albans Cathedral Choir has also made eight commercial recordings and their tours have taken them across Europe and to the United States. The Dean of Winchester, the Very Revd Catherine Ogle said: “I am delighted by the appointment of Andrew Lucas as Interim Director of Music. He is ideally suited to this role and will enable us to continue nurturing the outstanding choral tradition at Winchester Cathedral. “Andrew brings exemplary skills and experience as Director of Music, a commitment to producing music to the very highest standard and a deep commitment of care for musicians. “His work founding and working with a range of choirs, including a youth choir and the St Albans Bach Choir, indicate his commitment to sharing choral music more widely. We are fortunate that at this stage in his career, Andrew has made himself available to us. “We look forward to his steady and experienced hand guiding us in this time of change, and to welcoming him warmly into the Winchester Cathedral community.” Andrew Lucas said: “Having worked for almost 27 years at St Albans Cathedral, where musical excellence has always been part of its daily life, I am honoured to be invited to maintain the long tradition of outstanding choral music in the daily worship of Winchester Cathedral. “I look forward to providing support and continuity as the choirs, music staff, Chapter and the whole Cathedral community move into a new era with their next Director of Music.” His role will be to lead the Choral Foundation, and to maintain the consistency of the choirs and their worship and our common life. He will also have input into the excellent relationship the Cathedral enjoys with our valued local partners at Pilgrims’ and Winchester College. He will also help build strong bonds with the adult musicians, our chorister parents and their families. The Very Reverend Jo Kelly-Moore, Dean of St Albans said: “For the last 26 years Andrew Lucas has been leading excellence in music at St Albans Cathedral. Andrew is a superb musician, who is generous, collaborative and kind. “He is highly respected and well loved by the whole Cathedral community and beyond. We know that Andrew will be a blessing to the music of Winchester Cathedral.” Dean Catherine added: “Andrew is a highly experienced and talented musician and we’re very much looking forward to him joining the team and we’ll be relying on him for his wisdom and musical guidance as we learn from and build on what has gone on before.”

Winchester Cathedral has moved to reassure people over the alleged crisis affecting its music-making following a story in the Hampshire Chronicle

NINE candidates will contest the General Election in Winchester and six in Romsey and Southampton North on Thursday July 4.

Southern Water customers gathered at Colden Common Community Centre to find out more about work to solve chronic flooding in villages near Winchester.

Comedian and actor Hugh Dennis installed as new Chancellor of the University of Winchester