Cathedral music director is arrested for gross indecency

Cathedral music director is arrested for gross indecency

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norman lebrecht

March 26, 2018

A statement from Cambridgeshire Constabulary: ‘A 46-year-old man from Rochester was arrested last year on suspicion of gross indecency with a child. He has been released under investigation.’

The suspect is understood to be director of music at Rochester Cathedral. He has been suspended from duties.

 

Comments

  • Malcolm James says:

    He represented Rochdale, which is some 200 miles away.

  • Frederick West says:

    Nowhere near! Check the map….

  • Frederick West says:

    This sort of thing is becoming so common one really does wonder.
    https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hull-east-yorkshire-news/ex-holy-trinity-organist-jailed-770929.amp
    A remarkable performer with a huge repertoire and a superlative technique but…..

    • Olassus says:

      Meanwhile, 70% of UK youth are “no religion,” 10% are Catholic, 7% are Anglican, and 6% are Muslim:

      www [dot] stmarys [dot] ac [dot] uk/research/centres/benedict-xvi/europes-young-adults-and-religion.aspx

  • Elizabeth Owen says:

    Racism has no place on this or any other site.

  • Alex Davies says:

    Huh? Sir Cyril was MP for Rochdale 1982-92. Nothing to do Rochester.

  • Sue says:

    All this is a sad reminder of the fact that the society’s morality, or lack thereof, runs vertically through ALL the classes and professions and not just horizontally through ONE.

  • Stephen says:

    And people like HILARY got to vote in the referendum!
    This is what is wrong with the reaction most people to emotive topics like sexual offences or racism; they don’t let the facts get in the way of their opinions.

  • ANDY says:

    And this, just 3 years ago in the same place. What is Rochester Diocese playing at…?
    http://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/ex-choirmaster-rathbone-jailed-for-sex-with-girl-19762/

  • Adrienne says:

    Ahhh, a cathedral!

    Meanwhile, in Telford and Rotherham, where nothing, absolutely nothing, has happened, ever ……

    • Stephen says:

      You do know that I in Telford and Rotherham thirty or more men have been jailed for child sexual offences?
      Meanwhile you continue to allege that nothing has been done by the police, the local authorities, the MPs etc even when the only reason that you know about Telford and Rotherham is because the media have reported on the activities of the courts etc.

      • Adrienne says:

        I have not alleged that nothing has been done by the police. I do, however, allege that far too many people are very selective about the types of abuse that they are prepared to condemn.

  • Mark Mortimer says:

    Without naming- I know the individual in question. I’ve worked with him- he’s a first class musician both virtuoso organist & fine conductor & we were both at the same university. I really hope these allegations are false.

    • MARK says:

      There are plenty who have worked with him closely who know that he has a very questionable record, at best- [redacted]. Has left two church jobs. Do your research and stop your naivety…

      • Mark Mortimer says:

        ‘On suspision’. So I would prefer to wait to the verdict. Nothing to do with ‘naivety’ & alledged ‘track record’ which I’ve no comment on. Tx.

    • Mark Mortimer says:

      Correction Stephen- we were not both at Cambridge. Another institution which I won’t name but would be clear if you read our biographies.

      • CYNTHIA says:

        Both at Royal Holloway? These allegations relate to his time in Ely but may not be isolated. This could be a huge and developing saga

  • Herbert Gussett says:

    Reminds me of Dave Allen’s famous Cathedral sketch.

    /www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx6hAQmR1fg

  • MARK says:

    I think you should do some research into the past of this individual. Your post is painfully naive. He hasn’t been condemned here but there could be patterns of behaviour in any individual’s past, which need looking into. Because Choristers “love him” is hardly an indication as to someone’s innocence.

    • Mark says:

      St Paul’s Knightsbridge, Bury St Edmunds, Ely, Newcastle, Rochester. Same guy. Quite to the contrary, there are strict rules about bail. For it to be extended this long strongly suggests that there IS more to go on, or he would have been released without charge. I have been contact by the authorities about this individual in a completely different juristiction lesss than two months ago. It looks like they are following a trail. Don’t be surprised if more comes to light in the future.

      • matteob says:

        You just prove my point: a police fishing expedition. Scott would not have been offered several Cathedral posts if his reputation was dubious. He was at Newcastle a long time and has been at Rochester 10 years. I have a friend who was a Chorister at Rochester under Scott. He said he never had any comcerns and that Scott if anything was quite a strict guy though the boys liked him as he treated them as adults. He is well liked here, has a long term girlfriend and has never given cause for comcern.

  • Christina says:

    I suggest that everyone calms down and waits to see what the final decision is! Most of what you say is pure conjecture. I too know Scott very well, he has always behaved professionally and well. My advice is to be very careful of what you say , the truth will out, then and only then will you be able to make judgement. I am not naive and I know that over the years there has been a great deal of abhorrent behaviour, in Cathedrals and churches and once there is a clear police decision , you can then make your comments freely!

  • Yhy45 says:

    Where did you get this from?

  • Tim says:

    Has he been sentenced?

  • Disgruntled says:

    Well now I know why they wouldn’t let me get involved with their cathedral. i.e I’m not a perv. Sigh

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