Bob and Betty Eaton
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Unbelievably, Bob and Betty Eaton both reached the age of 85 this year. At the end of September they will retire from their roles as (respectively) chief organist and flower-arranger in the college chapel. ‘BobandBetty’ have become an institution in our congregation. I estimate that since 1969 Bob has played the organ on at least 1,000 occasions – which means that Betty has produced a similar number of beautiful flower arrangements.
Bob was a self-taught organist, but Betty claims the credit for the fact that he became established and known in Oxfordshire: after they fell in love at the age of 17, while both still at school, she used to blow the organ for him in the dusty organ loft in Thame parish church, where he first became proficient. They were married at 21, and Bob, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, became a self-employed builder; Betty taught at Sandhills School until the first of their four children was born.
It was in 1969 that the Eatons first attended a service in the MCO chapel, in order to hear the playing of the legendary organist Harold Spicer. They received such a warm welcome from the congregation that they came back the next Sunday – and were soon actively involved in the life of the Chapel Society. Bob became the assistant organist, until he eventually succeeded to the post that Harold Spicer had held for 54 years. It was a privilege for him to play on what is often described as the finest organ of its type in Oxford, or even in the south of England: most Oxford colleges have installed continental organs, but ours retains the wonderful full sound of the English romantic organ. Bob’s favourite composers for the instrument are Elgar and Louis Lefébure-Wély.
And what are Betty’s favourite flowers? Roses, she says firmly – but adds ruefully that they are difficult to arrange: "They seem to have minds of their own – they move in the night!" Betty has an instinctive sense of what will make the greatest impact in our vast and ornate chapel. Her special arrangements on Remembrance Sunday and at Christmas are particularly memorable.
Betty and Bob have served the chapel and college under five successive Principals (Dr Garrard, Dr Short, Revd. Bruce Findlow, Revd. Tony Cross, and Dr Waller). Their contributions to the fabric and life of the chapel are both seen and unseen. Bob built the new pit for the organ console when it was moved across the chancel from its original position behind a screen under the organ pipes. They rescued the eagle lectern and the handsome oak table (now kept at the back of our chapel) from the jaws of a bulldozer when the old Unitarian chapel at Notting Hill was about to be demolished. For many years Bob served on the college council, and Betty represented the Chapel Society at meetings of the Midland Union, served on the General Assembly Council, and is a stalwart of the Oxford branch of the Unitarian Women’s League.
The appointment of Myles Hartley as the first Organ Scholar of Harris Manchester College, as of October 2004, was the signal for Bob to announce his retirement, although he will probably still play for us occasionally. Likewise Betty will still arrange the flowers on occasions, but most weeks from the beginning of October we shall rely on potted plants, with fresh flowers supplied and arranged by volunteers on special occasions. The Chapel Society is indebted to the Eatons for their cheerful and willing service over the years. Thank you, Betty and Bob. Catherine Robinson September 2004