John Tomlinson

[Bazf]

Queen’s honour for opera singer



JOHN Tomlinson.
A WORLD-FAMOUS opera star from Oswaldtwistle is set to get a knighthood after being named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

John Tomlinson, 58, formerly of Rhyddings Street, who has sung in opera houses all over the world, will receive the title at a ceremony later this year.

He said: “I am delighted to receive this honour as I have always tried to fly the flag for opera and for Britain wherever I have gone in my career.”

John lived in Oswaldtwistle until 1964 and is a former pupil of Hippings Methodist Primary School and the former Accrington Grammar School.

After studying for a degree in civil engineering at Manchester University he won a scholarship to the Royal Manchester College of Music.

His 35-year career has seen him perform all over the world including Berlin, Vancouver, New York, Paris, Amsterdam, Munich, Vienna, Florence and Tokyo.

He now lives in Lewes, West Sussex, and is married to Moya with three children, Abigail, 33, Ellen, 32, and Joseph, 28, and two grandchildren Yasmin and Luca.

Despite his success and being awarded the CBE in 1997, he is still an Oswaldtwistle lad at heart.

He said: “My parents were both from Oswaldtwistle and my grandfather William Greenwood was the first socialist chairman of the council there in the 1920s.

“I owe the people of Oswaldtwistle a lot as much of my passion for music comes from my time there. When I was younger we always used to sing around the piano and I remember singing in assembly at school very well.

“My wife’s mother lives at Carnforth so we still come back to the area to visit her and I still have some friends in Oswaldtwistle.

“Unfortunately I recently hurt my knee on holiday in the Lake District so I hope I will be able to kneel when it comes to the ceremony.”



Also joining the honours list is Rising B

[cashman]

thats another good result. for the area

[garinda]

Found this letter to The Musical Times, from 1911.

The letter mentions Accrington Clef Club, and their recitals of chamber music.

The writer was a Herbert Tomlinson of Oswaldtwistle.

JSTOR: An Error Occurred Setting Your User Cookie

The odds must mean there's a family conection. Grandather perhaps?

[garinda]

Amongst the factories and textile mills of Lancashire, Sir John Tomlinson’s family of miners, shopkeepers and factory workers would gather around the piano for regular singing sessions as well as taking part in local choirs.
“I was brought up in the 50s, in a very industrial community, lots of factories, lots of textile-mills. All my family were miners and shopkeepers and textile-workers mainly, and factory-workers,” Sir John explains.

Read More Sir John Tomlinson takes Wagner to deeper levels - Music - Birmingham Culture - Life & Leisure - Birmingham Post

[Atarah]

Yesterday I managed to pick up one of the METRO papers. There was an article in about John Tomlinson who is going to appear at RIPON International Festival. They have managed to tempt him to take time out from his jetset lifestyle from performing around the world, to come to Yorkshire. It says he will appear in a costumed and semi-staged performance of musical settings of Michaelangelo's poems. He will share the stage with pianist, David Owen Norris, in the intimacy and appropriate setting of the beautiful church Holy Trinity. Sept 13th 2013. Wow! I would LOVE to hear him!