A MUSICIAN from Kendal it to be honoured with an award for his commitment to music and the church.

Robert Talbot will receive the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) Certificate of Special Service at Hereford Cathedral later this year.

Geoff Gordon, of the RSCM in Cumbria, said: “I’ve known Robert for 40-odd years and he has always been a very unassuming musician and thoroughly deserves this award.”

The certificate is to be given to Mr Talbot in rec-ognition of his commitment to the RSCM over the years.

Mr Talbot was assistant organist at Kendal Parish Church for 44 years from 1969 until his retirement in August last year.

He sang as a bass on the RSCM Cathedral Courses in the late 1960s, which took him to Westminster Abbey and York Minster.

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“I was thrilled, honoured and humbled to be recognised for what I’ve done,” said Mr Talbot.

He also sang and played with Kendal Parish Church choir in venues across the country, including at St Paul’s Cathedral and on BBC broadcasts.

The Talbot Music Centre, a state-of-the-art music faci-lity, at The Queen Katherine School, Kendal, where he was formerly Head of Year, is named after he and his wife Lesley.

A musical family, his son Christopher is a musician in a professional rock band and his daughter Anna teaches at Gloucester Cathedral.

Mr Talbot also taught at Kendal Grammar school and later became head of year at Longlands School for Boys, Kendal.

Outside his church, he was also conductor of Kendal Concert Band, a member of Westmorland Music Council, the Mary Wakefield Music Festival committee and sang with Pro Nobis Singers.