Choir Leader’s Tributes

TRIBUTES have been paid to a beloved Leigh choir leader who inspired generations of school children to sing.

Friends and family attended Janet Walker’s church service and cremation this October, following her death in August.

The respected pianist and musical director was widely known throughout the area for her work with Leigh Orpheus Male Voice Choir and the Step-Up Choir.

Mrs Walker was also beloved for directing the West Leigh Junior School Boys’ Choir, performing often with Leigh-based charity The Music Man Project.

Her husband, local councillor Chris Walker, said that music had been at the very heart of Mrs Walker’s life.

Speaking after the funeral, Mr Walker described his wife’s musical career: “She ran choirs everywhere, she went with choirs to places like Covert Garden and St Paul’s Cathedral.

“There were over 400 people who attended her funeral, which shows how popular she was.

“She did anything musical for anybody. If her pupils had to go for an exam, she was there. She supported people everywhere. Everything in her life was about music.”

Having spent her career as a teacher, Mrs Walker had only recently retired before her death, just two days after she celebrated her 78th birthday.

Mr Walker added: “She had been a teacher all her life. She had retired three weeks before she died so everybody in West Leigh School attended her funeral.”

As firm believers in organ donation, Mr Walker revealed both Mrs Walker’s eyes, bone from the upper half of her left arm and bones from both legs were removed.

Mrs Walker’s death back in August prompted an outpouring of grief from across the community, with hundreds paying tribute to a Southend citizen who devoted her life to education, music and helping others.

The church service for Mrs Walker was held on October 3 at St. Aidan’s on The Fairway in Belfairs, followed by a cremation on October 5 at Southend crematorium.

Among those paying tribute at the funeral was David Stanley BEM, founder of The Music Man Project, a charity promoting musical education for people with learning disabilities.

Mr Stanley described Mrs Walker as a legendary musical figure whose work had inspired generations of children.

He said: “In recent years, Jan performed many concerts with The Music Man Project Essex, featuring her beloved West Leigh Junior School Boys’ Choir.

“It was such a privilege to witness Jan teaching the boys.

“They adored her and she had a magical way of getting the most out of them.”

Picture: Janet Walker by Paul Collins.

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