In this presentation, Dr Ross Purves, Associate Professor of Music Education at the Institute of Education, UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society, will explore the musical contribution of the Diemer family to the musical life of late Victorian and early Twentieth Century Bedford. At least six members of this family are buried at Foster Hill Road Cemetery. The most well-known of this is Philip H Diemer, one of the founders of Bedford Choral Society, local organist and teacher of music at the Harpur Trust schools. However, Philip’s wife Mary Elizabeth and their four daughters had equally important and interesting musical careers in their own right and left a strong legacy of music making and service to the Town. Ross’s talk will feature live performances of some of Philip Diemer’s piano compositions which have particular relevance to the Cemetery and to Bedford as a whole.

Refreshments will be available after the event.

This event is free to Friends