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Christopher Michael Ball

Known affectionately as Mike Ball, he was born in the village of Harworth, south of Doncaster. He started learning music at the age of 6 and by the age of 9 was appearing in local musical festivals, playing the piano. He started learning organ at the age of 10, and would accompany choir practices and anthems at his local church. He played for his first full church service on Easter Day when he was 12 years old. At the age of 15 he became organist and choirmaster of the nearby town of Bawtry, besides also studying for F.R.C.O. under the organist at Retford, where he attended Grammar School, and on theatre organ under Hubert Selby, eventually becoming a relief cinema organist.

On Easter Monday 1961, Mike moved to Brixham and left music to concentrate on his profession as a marine electronics and mechanical engineer, continuing to play the organ occasionally in pubs and at parties.

In 1986, Mike moved to Stoke Gabriel and within months became organist and choirmaster at the village church. In 1996 he took over as director of music at the church of St. Mary Magdalene, Upton, Torquay. It was here that the choir first became aware of Mike’s talents and in July 2000, when the choir were in need of a new Director, we asked him to join us.

The choir were very pleased to sing at Mike’s wedding to Pat in September 2001, and even went on their “honeymoon” with them, when the choir made a concert tour to Maastricht, Holland, two days later!

Mike is a past President of the Torbay and District Organists’ Association, a member of the Royal College of Organists and he is on the committee of the Royal School of Church Music for the Devon Area.

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