By Edward William Fashole-Luke11
In April 1993, at the memorial service of my late Father, the Rev Canon Professor Edward William Fashole-Luke1, Professor Eldred Jones said inter alia the following " I should not be giving this tribute to one of my star pupils. I would have expected Edward to be giving this tribute to his me his teacher who taught him firstly at the CMS Grammar School and then at Fourah Bay College."
Professor Eldred Jones was born on the 6th of January 1925. He passed away in his sleep in the early hours of Saturday 21st March 2020 aged 95 years.
He attended the famous CMS Grammar school, and then came to Fourah Bay College, then part of the University of Durham where he obtained a good Division 11 degree. After a stint teaching at the CMS Grammar school, he went to Christ Church College at the University of of Oxford where he distinguished himself with an upper Second class degree narrowly missing a First Class degree from that most venerable institution.
He later went on to attain his Ph.D from the world famous Durham University. I am sure that many people will attest to his brilliance as an academic, his artistic talents, his several years as Principal of Fourah Bay College etc etc.
Mine is a personal tribute to my interactions with him growing up. We shared a great passion for classical organ and choral music. I remember several years ago spending many a Sunday afternoon listening to the choirs of The Temple Church in London and King's College, Cambridge. We would then listen to famous Organists like Sir George Thalben-Ball, Simon Preston and Virgil Fox.
One Sunday afternoon, he brought out an LP introducing me to a French Organist called Pierre Cochereau. I had never heard of him before. He put on the LP of Pierre Cochereau playing the Organ of the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. The first place was the Toccata and Fugue in D minor by Johann Sébastian Bach. It was riveting. Next was him playing the Widor Toccata in F. I was instantly impressed and hooked. From that day, uncle Eldred called me an organ buff. I learnt a new English word that day.
I attended a few of his English classes when he taught at Fourah Bay College. He was a Master of the English Language. To listen to him speaking the Queen's English was an absolute joy to behold. I was privileged to be a student at Fourah Bay College for four years when he was Principal. I can safely say that Fourah Bay College was then the finest institution of higher learning in Africa.
I went on to study law at the University of London after Fourah Bay College. In 1985 or 1986 uncle Eldred and aunty Marjorie his dearest wife came to London. I was, then, very close friends with the then Organist and Director of Music at St Paul's Cathedral London, Dr Christopher Dearnley. I invited uncle Eldred and aunty Marjorie to the Eucharistic service at St Paul's Cathedral.
After the service of mattins had ended, I spotted uncle Eldred and aunty Marjorie sitting at the back of the Cathedral. I went up to them and said that these seats are not for you. I have arranged special seats for you. Aunty Marjorie comments are inter alia as follows " when our nephew Edward came to get us and told us to move to the front of the Cathedral, ah dust me sef, ah adjust me hat, then ah collect me sef en ah pick me sput."
After the most amazing service, i took uncle Eldred and aunty Marjorie up to the Organ loft where the Grand Organ of St Paul's Cathedral is situated. I introduced them to Dr Christopher Dearnley then the Organist and Director of Music at St Paul's Cathedral London. He then told them that he had also studied Theology and Music at Oxford University. He gave them a great demonstration of the magnificent organ. Uncle Eldred said that it was a finer organ than the Organs of King's College Cambridge and Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. It's an experience that we always talked about.
Like Dr Christopher Dearnley, Professor Eldred Jones was a great mentor of mine. I admired his charm, brilliant intellect and integrity. He was simply a great man. He made an indelible impression on me. He was one of the finest persons i have had the privilege of meeting. Like Dr Dearnley, he also passed away peacefully in his sleep.
Requiescat in pace, uncle Eldred Durosimi Jones.
Copyright © 2020 Politico Online
