Simon Lindley, one of Yorkshire’s leading musicians has died at the age of 76. Born in Kent he came to Leeds fifty years ago and became very much an adopted Yorkshireman with an involvement in a myriad of musical organisations and events across the county. He always found it difficult to turn down invitations to conduct performances or to play at friends’ events such that he was notorious for getting himself double-booked. Such was his charm and his skill at extricating himself that it became regarded as somewhat endearing. His musical abilities as an organist, teacher, conductor and composer were highly regarded. His passion for musical and, particularly, choral excellence sometimes made him a hard taskmaster but his warmth and enthusiasm ensured that no-one bore grudges.
Even before coming to Leeds as the Master of Music at the Parish church - now the Minster - he held a number of important organist positions first in London and then in St Albans. He remained in charge of music at the Minster through to his retirement in 2016. For much of that time he directed its junior choir for the daily sung evensong - the only church with such sung office apart from the cathedrals. At the Minster Lindley was meticulous in keeping records of all the music played and in preparing the sets of music required for the daily service. Outside Leeds he was in demand for the Albert Hall Proms and for overseas tours. Friends of Lindley understood that he was solicited for a number of cathedral posts but loyalty kept him in Leeds at the heart of its music scene for almost fifty years. His leading role in so many musical activities in Leeds and Yorkshire were a key contribution to the city’s high cultural reputation.
In 1976 he was appointed Leeds City Organist and was Senior Lecturer in Music at the Leeds Polytechnic (now Leeds Beckett University), 1976-87. From 1987 to 2011 he was Senior Assistant Music Officer at Leeds City Council. During that period he wrote many erudite programme notes for Town Hall concerts, many of which contained at least one curious fact about the composer or the piece being performed known only to him! Following his retirement the Leeds City Council presented him with the Leeds Award, conferred by the then Lord Mayor, Councillor Judith Elliott, at a special ceremony at the Leeds Civic Hall.
Lindley was the Music Director of the Minster-based St Peter’s Singers from 1977 to 2020. He also spent many years as Chorus Master to the Halifax Choral Society and the Leeds Philharmonic Society. He was also for a time the conductor of the Sheffield Bach Choir and the Doncaster Choral Society. Even whilst undertaking these leading directing roles Lindley continued to perform numerous solo and orchestral organ roles, including many lunchtime recitals at the Leeds Town Hall. He was particularly interested in the restoration of church organs and would spend time travelling to village churches to advise and to test elderly instruments. For the past twenty-five years he lived in the Moravian settlement at Fulneck in Leeds. One of his projects in the village was the restoration of the neglected but rare mid-eighteenth century organ in the Moravian church.
The affection for Simon Lindley extended beyond his formal musical roles. He was extremely convivial and was an active Rotarian and Mason. He regularly responded to requests to appear at informal venues at which he would provide “light” musical interludes which were often his own compositions. Despite his elevated background and BBC English he had the ability to converse with everyone no matter what the circumstances. He would take choristers into the Leeds Market for Christmas carols - a setting where he was clearly well known to stall holders. Also together with Matthew Sims, the city’s Music Officer, he wheeled a piano around the city for the Pub Piano Competition. Fortunately for his many commitments Lindley managed on a very modest amount of sleep and would be at the Minster early in the morning to prepare for his long day. Despite the pressures on his preparation time he always appeared relaxed with much quick repartee for every occasion.
Lindley suffered a stroke in 2022 but was returning bit by bit to his activities when he died in hospital after a short illness.
Simon Lindley, musician, born 10 October 1948, died 25 February 2025
