Walter Parratt

PARRATT, (Sir) Walter. b. Huddersfield, 10 February 1841; d. Windsor, 27 March 1924. The precocious son of a well-known Huddersfield organist, Thomas Parratt (1793-1862), he was steeped in organ-playing during childhood. In 1852 he became a chorister at the choir school of St Peter’s, Pimlico where, besides playing the organ, he took lessons from George Cooper*, assistant organist of St Paul’s Cathedral. Returning to Huddersfield in 1854 he became organist of St Paul’s Church, before moving, in 1861, to be organist to Lord Dudley at Whitley Court, Worcestershire. After Whitley Court he was organist of Wigan Parish Church (1868-72) and later Magdalen College, Oxford, where he succeeded John...