Happy 100th to Dr Francis Jackson!

Earlier this week Dr Francis Jackson celebrated his 100th birthday and Ed Jackson captured the moment when he opened his card from Her Majesty The Queen. 

Later today York Minster is inviting the public along to a very special Evensong at 5.15pm and a reception in the North Transept at 6.15. All over the country cathedral choirs are performing his work. Happy Birthday Dr Francis!

Born in Malton, Yorkshire, on 2 October 1917, Dr Jackson was Organist and Master of Music at the Minster for 36 years from 1946, although his musical connection with the cathedral began nearly two decades earlier when he trained as a chorister under Sir Edward Bairstow.

The Organist Emeritus has given recitals and concerts across the globe as well as recording numerous solo organ performances and a variety of choral music with the York Minster choir. You can follow his long and very successful career in lots more detail through a special tribute in The Archive of Recorded Church Music. 15 years ago Colin Brownlee started to put together what is acknowledged as the definitive collection of recordings worldwide.

http://recordedchurchmusic.org/jackson-francis

During his time at the Minster, Dr Jackson played at the wedding of the Queen’s cousin, His Royal Highness, the Duke of Kent, to CSA’s Patron, Katherine Worsley, on 8 June 1961.

Other significant highlights during his career include being President of the Royal College of Organists from 1972 to 1974 and being appointed OBE for his services to music in 1978, followed by a CBE in the Queen’s birthday honours in 2007.