A CELEBRATION Event took place in Exeter Cathedral, on the afternoon of Sunday, September 12, when Gordon Pike was finally recognised for having been in the Cathedral Choir for some 50 years.

Gordon, who is the brother of Shirley Vallance a former teacher at Hayward’s Primary School in Crediton, also taught at Exeter Cathedral school during his time there.

These Celebrations should have taken place at Easter 2020 but, due to Covid, had to be postponed and took place after evensong on Sunday, September 12 with speeches and the presentation of a gift voucher.

Gordon was able to reminisce over those 50 years.

He reminded everyone that one winter when there was two foot of snow on the ground his father drove him, by tractor and trailer, from their farm at Whitestone to the Cathedral.

The biggest surprise, on Sunday afternoon. was that the Dean and Chapter had commissioned the Cathedral Stonemasons to prepare a model of Gordon’s head and famous beard, which was unveiled during the Celebrations. This will be carved in stone to be immortalised as a “roof boss” in stone on the Cathedral ceiling in the south transept.

Gordon recently raised £35,000 for the replacement of the Cathedral Grand Piano, which was commissioned during the afternoon

MV