An old friend of the Society

The distinguished composer, teacher and accompanist Roy Teed – a founder member of the Lennox Berkeley Society – died in Colchester on 17 June, aged 89.

After national service with the RAF, Roy studied composition with Lennox Berkeley at the Royal Academy of Music. On graduation, he returned to teach there. Later he taught at the Colchester Institute School of Music, where, some thirty years ago, he established the annual Roy Teed competition for student composers.

His prolific output as a composer ranged from choral works and songs (often written for the baritone Norman Tattersall, and setting texts by their mutual friend James Kirkup), to an opera (The Overcoat), concertos for piano and recorder, and chamber works.

For many years he accompanied Norman Tattersall in a duo partnership which gave concerts all over the UK and on Radio Three. In the early 1950s they joined another RAM alumnus, the composer Francis Routh, to found the Redcliffe Concerts of British Music, first in Bristol and then on the South Bank.

Roy Teed greatly admired his teacher, whose Christian name he gave to his own son, Paul Lennox, and he remained close to the Berkeleys for the rest of their lives – and they to him. Members of the Society will remember Roy’s warm and appreciative presence at annual meetings, which he always marked by presenting a bouquet to Freda Berkeley.

Roy was also involved in the early days of Colchester New Music, and served as president – and cheerleader – of the Colchester Symphony Orchestra. His life and work were celebrated by the Orchestra at a memorial concert in St Botolph’s Church, Colchester, on 21st April, a few days before what would have been his ninetieth birthday. The programme included Roy Teed’s own Phantasy for Flute and Strings, the Brahms Double Concerto for Violin and Cello and the Symphony No 7 by Sibelius.