Friends Festival – Hereford Cathedral

Friday 12 June 2026: Cathedral Nave 7pmDean Emeritus, Michael Tavinor, presents ‘Unlocking the Magic of the 48 Preludes and Fugues of J S Bach’, illustrating his talk with excerpts played on the piano and our famous Father Willis organ, with large screen to display hand and footwork. The event will be held in the Nave and fizz and canapes will be served in the Retrochoir after the talk.
Michael Tavinor studied music at University College, Durham, where he was organ scholar, and had organ lessons with the cathedral organist, Conrad Eden.  He continued his music studies at King’s College, London, where he researched the music of the 18th century composer, William Boyce.  He taught music for two years and then trained for ordination at Ripon College Cuddesdon.  After a curacy in Ealing, he became Precentor at Ely Cathedral, then, for 12 years, vicar of Tewkesbury Abbey.  From 2002 until his retirement in 2021, he was Dean of Hereford. In retirement in Presteigne, he enjoys pursuing his musical interests, re-kindling his enthusiasm for the piano and helping with the music at St Andrew’s parish church and at Presteigne Catholic church.

The cost is £15 per member (£20 guests). Please feel free to invite family, friends and neighbours. Places must be booked in advance. A list of names will be kept at the door.

Saturday 13 June 2026

11.30am North Transept: Lay Clerks in Concert

This year will be different in that the individual Lay Clerks will be asked briefly to introduce themselves to the audience. It will be good to get to know them better. This light-hearted performance is offered free of charge to all, members and non members.

12.30pm College Hall Lunch (advance booking required: deadline Friday 5 June)

Join guests for a glass of wine in College Hall, followed by an elegant two course lunch with wine, prepared and served by outside Caterers. There will be a hot mains option plus a vegetarian option, and a choice of dessert. Wine and soft drinks are included.

This year our after-lunch speaker will be the Cathedral’s Succentor, Dr Jonathan Roberts, who will speak about his musical background and his own vision for our much loved Choral tradition.

Friends’ Festival Lunch on Saturday 13 June 2026 (places must be reserved in advance):

Main course: Baked gammon with dauphinoise potatoes, peas and beans, parsley sauce

or

Vegetable Wellington

Dessert: Profiteroles with cream

or

Lemon tart with raspberries

You must let The Cathedral know by FRIDAY 5 JUNE:

1.    If you require the Vegetarian option (or the Gammon without parsley sauce)

2.    Any other dietary requirements/allergies.

The cost of lunch is £35 per member (£40 guests).  Please note that this cost for lunch means that we can offer free of charge the Lay Clerks in Concert; a guest preacher at Evensong; and tea in College Hall after Evensong, in other words, no one is excluded from the Friends’ Festival on grounds of cost.

2.15pm AGM in the Lady Chapel: open to all members

3.15pm Organ Voluntary: come and hear the world famous Father Willis organ!

3.30pm Festival Evensong in the Nave, with the Succentor, Dr Jonathan Roberts, as guest preacher

4.30pm Refreshments after Evensong are served in College Hall to all (members and non-members), courtesy of the Friends’ Trustees and supporters.  Please invite others to experience first-hand the benefits of joining the Friends.

See links for booking details.