Bernard Jackson
| Dr Joseph Bernard Jackson | |
|---|---|
| Nicknames | Jacko |
| Years at BGS | 1927-1951 (assumed) |
| Departments | Music |
| Subjects | Music |
Joseph Bernard Jackson was a teacher of music at Boston Grammar School (1927-1951 - assumed on the basis that those were the years he was organist at St Botolph's and the two roles were often combined).
An account from Centennial Anthology written by Paul Mould
Dr Bernard Jackson was for many years organist at the Stump and, unfortunately for him, he was also our Music teacher. The music classroom was situated above the masters' common room, as far away as possible from the rest of the school, so the unmelodious wailing caused minimum nuisance.
In keeping control 'Jacko' had the added handicap of playing the piano with his back to the class. His most amusing and magnetic feature was the tufts of hair growing horizontally out of both ears. One day, while we were rendering 'Nymphs and Shepherds Come Away' and he was lost in the m usic, one daring lad could resist the challenge no longer. He crept behind Mr Jackson and set fire to the hairs protruding from his left ear with a lighter and managed to regain his seat and adopt an innocent expression before the alarmed 'Jacko' turned round.
The consequences of the miscreant's derring-do were that Dr Jackson had to visit the barber in haste to restore equilibrium by having the still rampant hairs removed from his right ear and also that the piano, rather belatedly, was moved to prevent anyone ever again approaching unnoticed.
External links
- St Botolph's Church, Boston - List of organists - Wikipedia