Rev Richard Coles' guide to life's rich tapestry

I am indebted to the Rev Richard Coles for reminding me through his ever-illuminating Twitter feed that last Thursday was the bicentenary of Sir George Grove, esteemed founder of Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians.
Coles, ever fascinated by the rich tapestry of life and the strangely talented souls who populate and enrich our world, casually noted in a tweet on 13th August that  Sir George, “The son of a fishmonger at Clapham started out building cast iron lighthouses in the West Indies before devoting his life to music, biblical scholarship, and rediscovering Schubert.”
His extraordinary dictionary grew from the programme notes he made for weekly orchestral concerts at the rebuilt Crystal Palace in Sydenham in the late 19th century. They informed and entertained in away that avoided complex and esoteric technicalities.
Grove died in 1900 but had he been around today he would have undoubtedly been exactly the kind of multi-faceted individual who would end Coles himself who as a pop star turned priest - he was once a member of the chart-topping 1980s band The Communards - has more than a few tales to tell.
As a fully-fledged Vicar in the Church of England with his own parish in Northampton, Coles still manages to combine a programme of weddings, funerals and sermons with being a leading  broadcaster,  presenter and guest on radio and TV.
He is also a regular contributor to Clive Conway Productions and still has three An Audience with Rev Richard Coles shows (one in September and two next year) on our diary. We still hope they will go ahead. If not we will try to reschedule. Please check with individual venues and this website for further information.