Richard Latham
23rd November 1936 to 8th November 2025
A TRIBUTE
Richard was Musical Director of the choir for many years, taking over from his father in 1980 until he retired in 2019 with an exciting performance of the Verdi Requiem. The choir was very much part of the fabric of the Latham family as his father had founded the choir in 1937 and his mother Sylvia was their regular rehearsal accompanist for many years. Many family members sang under Richard’s baton whilst he was Director and his late wife Ysobel regularly played in the orchestra.
Richard was a much loved and respected Director who led with energy and dedication and inspired the choir to successful performances of many ambitious works. His exceptional musicianship, infectious enthusiasm and warm personality were always evident and much treasured by choir members. He also served for almost 40 years as Master of the Music at The Madrigal Society.
Richard’s musical education began just after the war, when he won a choral scholarship to St George’s Chapel, Windsor. After studying at Radley College he moved on to the Royal College of Music before winning an organ scholarship to Exeter College, Oxford. On leaving Oxford Richard became Assistant Organist at Peterborough Cathedral followed by Gloucester Cathedral. In 1976 he was appointed Director of Music at Bishop’s Stortford College where he taught for 21 years. His tireless commitment to music education inspired many students across the decades.
Richard enriched the lives of many with his far-reaching musical knowledge, his joy of sharing music making, his warmth, his renowned good humour and integrity. He will be sorely missed by all those who had the good fortune to have known him.
Richard was a much loved and respected Director who led with energy and dedication and inspired the choir to successful performances of many ambitious works. His exceptional musicianship, infectious enthusiasm and warm personality were always evident and much treasured by choir members. He also served for almost 40 years as Master of the Music at The Madrigal Society.
Richard’s musical education began just after the war, when he won a choral scholarship to St George’s Chapel, Windsor. After studying at Radley College he moved on to the Royal College of Music before winning an organ scholarship to Exeter College, Oxford. On leaving Oxford Richard became Assistant Organist at Peterborough Cathedral followed by Gloucester Cathedral. In 1976 he was appointed Director of Music at Bishop’s Stortford College where he taught for 21 years. His tireless commitment to music education inspired many students across the decades.
Richard enriched the lives of many with his far-reaching musical knowledge, his joy of sharing music making, his warmth, his renowned good humour and integrity. He will be sorely missed by all those who had the good fortune to have known him.
St Paul’s Knightsbridge Festival Choir
OUR NEXT CONCERT
7pm Saturday 14th March 2026
7pm Saturday 14th March 2026
Background image: The Creation of Adam (detail), c.1511, Michelangelo, 1475-1564.
St Paul's Knightsbridge Festival Choir perform three concerts a year attracting audiences from all over London. The venue for our performances is usually St Paul’s Church in Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, London SW1.
Join this friendly London choir today! For membership and further information please email angela.lascelles@gmail.com
Join a choir in London! St Paul’s Knightsbridge Festival Choir is a long established, friendly and sociable, amateur choir in central London. We perform a wide variety of major works, normally with an orchestra.
Whether you’re experienced or not, come and sing! Our weekly rehearsals, open to newcomers of all ages, are held in Kensington on Thursday evenings from 18.45 - 20.45 in the Parish Hall of St. Stephen’s, 48 Emperor’s Gate, London SW7 4HJ. Simply turn up, no invitation is necessary.
SUMMER CONCERT
7pm Saturday 30th May 2026
Rehearsals begin on Thursday 9th April at 18.45
7pm Saturday 30th May 2026
Rehearsals begin on Thursday 9th April at 18.45
St Paul's Knightsbridge Festival Choir perform three concerts a year attracting audiences from all over London. The venue for our performances is usually St Paul’s Church in Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, London SW1.
Join this friendly London choir today! For membership and further information please email angela.lascelles@gmail.com
Join a choir in London! St Paul’s Knightsbridge Festival Choir is a long established, friendly and sociable, amateur choir in central London. We perform a wide variety of major works, normally with an orchestra.
Whether you’re experienced or not, come and sing! Our weekly rehearsals, open to newcomers of all ages, are held in Kensington on Thursday evenings from 18.45 - 20.45 in the Parish Hall of St. Stephen’s, 48 Emperor’s Gate, London SW7 4HJ. Simply turn up, no invitation is necessary.
Come and sing Haydn's Creation
Come and sing with St Paul's Knightsbridge Festival Choir. No audition necessary, just turn up at one of our weekly rehearsals. Rehearsals for our Spring Concert will begin at 18.45 on Thursday 8th January at the Parish Hall of St. Stephen’s, 48 Emperor's Gate, London SW7 4HJ.
Join the choir now!
If you’d like to join St Paul’s Knightsbridge Festival Choir or have any enquiries about membership, rehearsals and tickets, our temporary Hon.General Secretary Angela Lascelles will be happy to help. Please email Angela at angela.lascelles@gmail.com
Join the choir now!
If you’d like to join St Paul’s Knightsbridge Festival Choir or have any enquiries about membership, rehearsals and tickets, our temporary Hon.General Secretary Angela Lascelles will be happy to help. Please email Angela at angela.lascelles@gmail.com
The Choir Leader and Members
NICHOLAS DANKS, DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
Nicholas Danks, Director of Music for St Paul’s Knightsbridge Festival Choir.
Nicholas Danks took over the reigns of the choir from Richard Latham in the Spring of 2019. Born in Harrow, Middlesex in 1974 into a family of professional musicians he began playing the piano at the age of four and his interest in church music began at his prep school, Quainton Hall, Harrow, where he sang in the chapel choir. At the age of nine he joined the choir of the Parish Church of St Mary, Harrow-on-the-Hill. He began learning the organ at the age of thirteen under the tuition of Frederic Goodwin, the organist at St Mary’s and also director of music at Nicolas's secondary school, the John Lyon School Harrow. Whilst still at school, Nicholas became assistant organist at St Mary’s and gained his A.R.C.O. Diploma. He sang with and accompanied the school choirs and toured with them to France, Germany and the Czech Republic. On leaving school, Nicholas went as organ scholar to read music at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he played a full part in the musical life of the college and university as an organist, cellist and choral director. At Cambridge he studied the organ with David Sanger, graduating in the summer of 1996. For five years he was assistant organist, and since June 2001 he has been Musical Director at St Martin in the Fields.'
In addition to his role as musical Director of SPKFC Nicholas is also Fellow and Director of Studies in Music at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and Director of Wadebridge Choral Society.
In addition to his role as musical Director of SPKFC Nicholas is also Fellow and Director of Studies in Music at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and Director of Wadebridge Choral Society.
MEMBERSHIP
St Paul's Church Knightsbridge, the main venue for SPKFC concerts. www.stpaulsknightsbridge.org.
SINGING MEMBERS
Newcomers will receive a very warm welcome. If you wish to know more about joining the choir including details of membership and subscription please email angela.lascelles@gmail.com
PATRONS
As not all members wish to, or necessarily can, be singers, non-singers are termed Patrons on payment of the appropriate subscription decided by the committee. Membership of the choir is open to any person interested in furthering the objects of the choir. The support of our patrons is greatly appreciated and is recognised in our concert programmes. For further information please email angela.lascelles@gmail.com
LIST OF PATRONS
Julien Butler
Hilary Clapham
Simon Cock
Penny Cowell
Anthony Dew
Ann Dunn
Richard Lascelles
George Nissen
Sue Robinson
Alison Stephens
Hilary Clapham
Simon Cock
Penny Cowell
Anthony Dew
Ann Dunn
Richard Lascelles
George Nissen
Sue Robinson
Alison Stephens
PHOTOGRAPHIC CREDITS
Background photograph of sheet music by David Beale
Photographs of Nicholas Danks at the piano, and choir members at rehearsal by
Dan Taylor, www.dantaylorphotography.com/
Dan Taylor, www.dantaylorphotography.com/
Photograph of interior of St Paul’s Church Knightsbridge by Stephen Willerton
ST PAUL’S KNIGHTSBRIDGE FESTIVAL CHOIR IS A REGISTERED CHARITY
The choir is formally registered as a charity aimed at advancing, improving, developing and maintaining public education in, and appreciation of, the art and science of music in all its aspects by the presentation of public concerts.
Registered no. 1104473
Registered no. 1104473
© St Paul’s Knightsbridge Festival Choir
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy of St Paul’s Knightsbridge Festival Choir
Last updated: (06/09/2019)
St Paul’s Knightsbridge Festival Choir operates https://www.spkfc.com. This page informs you of our policies regarding the collection, use and disclosure of Personal Information we receive from users of the website.
We use your Personal Information only for providing and improving the website and furthering the aims of the choir. By using the Site, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.
INFORMATION COLLECTION AND USE
In using our website and/or contacting our adminstration, we may ask you to provide us with certain personally identifiable information that can be used to contact or identify you. Personally identifiable information may include your email address, and phone number for the purposes of informing you of rehearsal and concert dates as well as venues.
LOG DATA
‘Google Analytics’ collects, monitors and analyses Log data on behalf of this website. This Log Data may include information such as your computer's Internet Protocol ("IP") address, browser type, browser version, the pages of our Site that you visit, the time and date of your visit, the time spent on those pages and other statistics.
COMMUNICATIONS
We will not use your Personal Information, if provided, to contact you with newsletters, marketing or promotional materials and other information.
Last updated: (06/09/2019)
St Paul’s Knightsbridge Festival Choir operates https://www.spkfc.com. This page informs you of our policies regarding the collection, use and disclosure of Personal Information we receive from users of the website.
We use your Personal Information only for providing and improving the website and furthering the aims of the choir. By using the Site, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.
INFORMATION COLLECTION AND USE
In using our website and/or contacting our adminstration, we may ask you to provide us with certain personally identifiable information that can be used to contact or identify you. Personally identifiable information may include your email address, and phone number for the purposes of informing you of rehearsal and concert dates as well as venues.
LOG DATA
‘Google Analytics’ collects, monitors and analyses Log data on behalf of this website. This Log Data may include information such as your computer's Internet Protocol ("IP") address, browser type, browser version, the pages of our Site that you visit, the time and date of your visit, the time spent on those pages and other statistics.
COMMUNICATIONS
We will not use your Personal Information, if provided, to contact you with newsletters, marketing or promotional materials and other information.
COOKIES
Cookies are files with small amount of data, which may include an anonymous unique identifier. Cookies are sent to your browser from a web site and stored on your computer's hard drive.
Like many websites, we use "cookies" to collect information. You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, if you do not accept cookies, you may not be able to use some portions of our Site.
SECURITY
The security of your Personal Information is important to us, but remember that no method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage, is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your Personal Information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.
CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY
This Privacy Policy is effective as of (06/09/2019) and will remain in effect except with respect to any changes in its provisions in the future, which will be in effect immediately after being posted on this page.
We reserve the right to update or change our Privacy Policy at any time and you should check this Privacy Policy periodically. Your continued use of the Service after we post any modifications to the Privacy Policy on this page will constitute your acknowledgment of the modifications and your consent to abide and be bound by the modified Privacy Policy.
If we make any material changes to this Privacy Policy, we will notify you either through the email address you have provided us, or by placing a prominent notice on our website.
CONTACT US
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact our temporary Hon. General Secretary, Angela Lascelles angela.lascelles@gmail.com
Cookies are files with small amount of data, which may include an anonymous unique identifier. Cookies are sent to your browser from a web site and stored on your computer's hard drive.
Like many websites, we use "cookies" to collect information. You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, if you do not accept cookies, you may not be able to use some portions of our Site.
SECURITY
The security of your Personal Information is important to us, but remember that no method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage, is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your Personal Information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.
CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY
This Privacy Policy is effective as of (06/09/2019) and will remain in effect except with respect to any changes in its provisions in the future, which will be in effect immediately after being posted on this page.
We reserve the right to update or change our Privacy Policy at any time and you should check this Privacy Policy periodically. Your continued use of the Service after we post any modifications to the Privacy Policy on this page will constitute your acknowledgment of the modifications and your consent to abide and be bound by the modified Privacy Policy.
If we make any material changes to this Privacy Policy, we will notify you either through the email address you have provided us, or by placing a prominent notice on our website.
CONTACT US
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact our temporary Hon. General Secretary, Angela Lascelles angela.lascelles@gmail.com