John Joubert (1944O) | 1927 -2019

It is with great sadness that the ODU informs its ODs of the passing of John Joubert (O, 1944) who died yesterday evening after complication arising from a fall.

Without question, the greatest composer to come out of Bishops, John established himself in Britain after finishing his degree at UCT's College of Music. He remained, until his death, one of the UK's preeminent living composers.

To us, though, he is probably most famous for his Christmas carol Torches which he wrote in 1951 and which has been sung by thousands of Bishops boys at the year-end carol services - and millions of others worldwide - ever since. His output was enormous and he wrote a huge number of serious and recognised works. This article by Roderic Dunnett who visited John just before Christmas last year tells of John's life in much greater depth. A copy of his obituary which appeared in the London Telegraph can be read HERE. His Wikipedia page is HERE.

John's 90th birthday in 2017 was marked and celebrated up and down the UK by concerts of his compositions.

To his wife of 68 years, Mary and to his children Anna and Pierre, the ODU sends its deepest condolences.

John's eulogy, delivered at John's funeral on 24th January 2019 by The Revd Canon David Warbrick, Vicar of All Saints Heath in the Diocese of Birmingham, can be read HERE
 

HERE is something to forever remind us of John