John W. (John William) Ivimey

Born in Stratford, London, on 12 September 1868, John William Ivimey trained at Herne Bay College and the Guildhall School of Music. He built a varied musical life as an organist, teacher, and composer, and became known especially for comic operas along with songs, cantatas, organ music, and other stage works.

Early in his career he worked at Wellington College, and later held music posts at Harrow School, Chelsea Polytechnic, Dulwich College, and Cheltenham College. In 1915 he became Director of Music at Marlborough College, a position he held for twenty-five years. He was awarded a Doctor of Music degree by the University of Oxford in 1916, and later also served as organist and director of music at All Souls, Langham Place.

Alongside his teaching and church work, he continued composing and writing about music. His first operetta, Fairy Genesta, was produced in 1892, and in 1935 he published Boys and Music, a memoir drawn from his years working in schools. He died on 16 April 1961 in Marlborough, Wiltshire.