Simon Preston

The ashes of Simon John Preston, CBE, Organist and Master of the Choristers at Westminster Abbey from 1981-1987, were buried in the west cloister on 21st November 2022. His stone adjoins that of a predecessor, Sir William McKie. The service of Evensong on that day gave thanks for his life and work.

The inscription, on a Purbeck marble stone cut by Abbey mason Mark Croll, reads:

'Simon John Preston 1938-2022, Sub Organist 1962-1967, Organist and Master of the Choristers 1981-1987.'

His life

He was born in Bournemouth, Dorset, son of John and Doreen (Lane), on 4th August 1938. He attended Canford School and King's College Cambridge. He served as Sub Organist at the Abbey under Douglas Guest. At Christ Church Oxford he was organist and tutor from 1970-1981 before returning to a post at the Abbey. For several years he conducted the Oxford Bach Choir. He toured around the world as a soloist and won many awards, as well as making more than a hundred recordings. In 2012 he married Elizabeth Hays but he had no children and he died on 13 May 2022 aged 83.