Teacher Profiles
Ron Tickner

Many will remember Ron Tickner from their Dr Morgan days. He taught French (and indeed had a French wife) but his main subject and passion was Music. Ron was a passionate man with a short temper as many can testify. However that was all tied up with his passion as a musician and a very good one he was as well - particularly as an organist. Many of us will remember his dislike of modern music and his attempts to make us all fall in love with the classical world. For many of us he succeeded. But maybe he was not so strict as he seemed. Recently we came across this memory from the Old Huishers Web Site. It must be the same man. There could never be two Ron Tickners!

"I well remember Ron Tickner and Frank Cottam, who were the two Music Masters, bashing out duets together on the old chalk-covered upright piano in the music room. I used to like to get them "at it" by taking in pieces of sheet-music which I at the time considered to be unplayable. I would stand transfixed as one or both of them would rattle out the piece playing by sight. There was an obvious difference between their musical orientation as was ably demonstrated when I presented them both with my latest acquisition, a piece called "Russian Rag" which was written around the famous Rachmaninov Prelude. I thought to myself, "Neither of them will be able to sight-read THIS"! How wrong I was because they both played the piece immaculately, BUT whereas Frank played it in classical mode, Ron had the edge because he could syncopate which is essential when playing Ragtime.

Writing about Ron Tickner reminds me of one of the School Carol Services which that year had been held at Holy Trinity Church. In those days, if not now, the organ console was situated above the West door and on the day of the Service, we in the School Choir, including Bob Pleass, took our places in the upstairs stalls adjacent to the organ console. Just after the Service commenced, there was a strong smell of burning. Ron was acutely aware of this because the Academic Gown he had chosen to wear for the occasion had become draped over electric heating-pipes which ran along the balcony-rail behind the organ bench. The poor devil was trying to pull his Gown away at the same time as he was playing the Organ. Of course we all thought this was hilarious!"

Ron was in many ways an un conventional man and a radical in an essentially conservative Grammar School. He was also a very humane person and is remembered by many. There is now a Scholarship in Ron's memory. Recently a student from Taunton School was awarded this scholarship. Taunton School's web site adds,

"Promising pianist Melissa Morris is adding another string to her bow with lessons in accompaniment, which are being funded with the help of a scholarship awarded in memory of Somerset Musician Ron Tickner who died nearly two years ago.

Following Ron's death, a Trust was founded to financial assistance to students of organ or piano accompaniment. So far it has awarded two scholarships - one to Katrine Reimers, who is studying for a post graduate diploma at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and the latest to 18 year-old Melissa."

So Ron is still remembered and his legacy is not only the many memories we have of him but also in a scholarship that not only celebrates Ron Tickner as a musician but also benefits many young people even today.