The music and education communities are mourning the loss of Leon Bailey, a gifted organist and devoted teacher who shared his passion for music for decades, most notably during a ten-year stint as the pianist for Worcester Cathedral's family service. He has died at the age of 94.
A Life Dedicated to Music and Teaching
Leon Bailey's career in music education was both extensive and influential. In 1965, he became a lecturer in music education at the West Midlands College of Education in Walsall. There, he conducted the college choir and played a key role in numerous student productions, while also serving as the assistant organist at St Matthew's church in the town.
His academic journey continued with his appointment as head of music at the City of Newcastle College of Education in 1971. He later taught on a creative arts BA programme at Newcastle Polytechnic, now known as Northumbria University. His scholarly pursuits led him to Keele University in 1979, where he studied American music and wrote his MA dissertation on the composer Stephen Sondheim.
Bailey also maintained a long association with the Open University, teaching various music courses and contributing to summer schools over many years, for which he received a long-service certificate in 2006.
Early Years and Wartime Service
Born in Portsmouth to May and Robert Bailey, Leon was briefly evacuated to Salisbury, Wiltshire, in 1939. He was later sent as a boarder to Queen's College in Taunton. His musical talent was evident early on, and in 1948 he won an organ scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied with C.H. Trevor.
In the early 1950s, he completed his national service with the RAF, spending time in Cambridge. During this period, he learned Russian and worked in photographic intelligence. Following his service, he joined the peripatetic music service in Staffordshire and, in 1958, was appointed head of music at Cannock Grammar School. A standout production during his tenure was Benjamin Britten's Noye's Fludde.
Retirement and Lasting Legacy in Worcester
Upon retiring from full-time work in 1986, Leon Bailey moved to Worcester, where he immersed himself in the local cultural scene. For ten years, he was the pianist for the family service at Worcester Cathedral, a role that brought his music to countless congregants. He also chaired the city's University of the Third Age for three years during the 1990s.
He remained involved with church music at his local parish church until the end. In his personal life, he was married first to Kathleen Andrews in 1958, whom he had first met when she was his pupil. After Kathleen's death in 1997, he married Valda Moelwyn-Hughes in 2001. The couple enjoyed wide travels, engaging with local cultural activities wherever they went.
Leon Bailey is survived by his wife Valda, his children Ros and the author of the original obituary, his grandchildren Ruth, Daniel, and William, and his great-grandchildren Harry and Michael.
