THURSDAY nights and Sunday mornings have become something of a ritual for organist Graham Wadley.

For the past half a century, he has been in St Mary’s Church, Wivenhoe, on Thursday nights for choir practice and on Sunday mornings for services.

Mr Wadley is somewhat invisible, hidden behind a pillar of the beautiful and historic church, but there is no doubt he can be heard.

The organ sounds out leading the choir and supporting the congregation in their worship.

Mr Wadley is Wivenhoe through and through.

He moved to the town when he was six weeks old and as a four-year-old went to school in Philip Road, walking a mile each way from his home in Wivenhoe Cross.

He has also had a lifelong association with St Mary’s Church.

His parents, Norman and Edna, sung in the choir and when Mr Wadley was seven years old, he duly joined.

By the time he was 12, Mr Wadley was playing the piano at Sunday school and when he was 13, he began to learn to play the organ.

He said: “I could play well enough to play a few hymns, but it is complicated, it is a hard instrument to learn.

“You have three keyboards, two for your hands and one for your feet and you have to coordinate everything. You learn gradually.

“I learnt a huge amount from John Tatam at the church. He was a great teacher and an absolutely superb musician.

“When he retired for the second time and moved away, I took over from him.”

Mr Wadley was 18 at the time and has continued in his role with quiet, dedicated commitment for the past 50 years.

In 1968, he began organising the church choir.

He said: “I have been doing it pretty much ever since.

“I have worked for four vicars – Douglas Gaye, Stephen Hardie, David Thomas and Erwin Lammens and have played for Sunday services and weddings – hundreds of weddings.”

Mr Wadley met his wife, Hilary, through the church as she sang in the choir.

They were married at St Mary’s Church – of course – in 1975.

They had three children, James, Lucy and Emily, who also sang in the choir.

Mr Wadley has travelled far and wide, across Europe and Japan, for his work with Halstead engineering firm Prima Berg. He was the managing director of the firm for 15 years and now, in semi-retirement, still works as a director.

But his heart is always in Wivenhoe. The family has lived in Stanley Road for the past 30 years – less than a mile from the church.

He said: “The church means a lot. It is really the heart of a community.” The years have passed at a pace. Mr Wadley would not have realised it was the 50th anniversary if it hadn’t have been for his wife – and his mother’s diary.

He said: “When my mum died she left a comprehensive set of diaries which my wife went through and found when I had started playing the organ.

“Things have changed quite a bit over the years.

“We used to have two services on every Sunday, but now only have the morning service and an afternoon service once a month.”

Mr Wadley has been dedicated to the organ having been involved in the Society for Church Music for 40 years.

He also sits on the diocesan committee and is a trustee and director of a number of governing councils for the Royal School of Church Music.

A celebration was held at the church to mark Mr Wadley’s 50th anniversary, with 120 guests attending including the Bishop of Colchester the Rt Rev Roger Morris and Harwich and North Essex MP and accomplished singer Bernard Jenkin.

Mr Wadley’s favourite organ pieces were played, including those by Bach and Buxtehude.

As the milestone is passed, Mr Wadley has no intention to leave his post.

He said: “I still enjoy playing.

I can’t see the music as well as I could, but I know all the hymns by heart.”