Family pays tribute to gifted pianist Peter Rogers

A man who had been a pianist and organist for more than 80 years has died – just hours after he accompanied a pupil of his singing teacher wife.

Peter Rogers, who was 88, was well known throughout the county for his musical prowess. He and his wife, Joyce, were widely admired as a duo of considerable talent. The couple had been married for 64 years.

They met at the steel furniture offices at Joseph Sankey and Sons, later GKN Sankey.

Born in the north-east, Mr Rogers came to Shropshire aged three, and went to the then Wellington High School and the Walker Technical College.

By the age of five or six, he was being given piano lessons by his uncle, William Rogers, who was director of music at Wrekin College.

Mrs Rogers, of Wellington, said: "In no time at all, he was playing piano for Sunday school. And in years to come we used to laugh because he also wanted to sing but whatever choir he joined, every time he ended up as the accompanist."

When he and Joyce married in 1947 he joined her father's choir at Hadley and was eventually to become organist at the Methodist church for more than 40 years. His wife and her father were in charge of the choir for a total of 80 years.

Mr Rogers played at a Sunday service two days before his death.

He leaves Joyce, daughters Elizabeth and Jennifer, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

His funeral is on September 29, at noon at Hadley Methodist Church.