Cdr John Mankerty OBE

[jimdavis]

While waiting for those taking communion to get weighed off, I looked through the hymn book and was astonished at just how many I knew.
All without anything but the vaguest notion of how I had learnt them. Probably, these had been ingested from the age of five, taught by a teacher on a piano from the corner of a classroom, by rote, line by line.
The result being, that I know, most by heart, perhaps 25 or 30 (at least). All just beautiful.
It has just occurred to me in the context of recent exchanges with Bob, how important an influence this has been on my life.
First, the actual experience, the act of singing - making music together, is marvelously cohesive, cooperative and satisfying, as well as character building experience, for the young.
Secondly it has provided for a love of music (I have very 'catholic' tastes) that has lasted all my life.
And last and perhaps not least, it has been proved that music acts upon the same part of the brain responsible for mathematics and calculus. Improving and building ability.
I feel sorry for generations since, for whom time was no longer found for such things.
For that learning experience alone, faith school education was/is worth every penny.