Henry Charles Tonking (17 January 1863 – 7 June 1926) was a British organist. Tonking was organist at the Royal Aquarium, Westminster (1886), St Luke's Church, West Norwood (1887), and, from 1888, at the Covent Garden Opera. He also gave recitals at the Crystal Palace, at the Bow and Bromley Institute, and the Royal Albert Hall Sunday Concerts (1895-1905). Life Tonking was born in Camborne, Cornwall, England. As a child Tonking received his first musical instructions from his father who was a good amateur violinist, according to Groves. Later he studied the organ, pianoforte and harmony with John Hopkins Nunn (1827-1905). He was only thirteen when he was appointed organist of Illogan Parish Church, Cornwall.(1876) In 1881 he went to study at the Royal Academy of Music, London. His professors were Dr Charles Steggall (organ), Monsieur Sainton (violin), Mr Ebenezer Prout (harmony & composition) and Sir George MacFarren (Pianoforte). After receiving six medals and a certificate of merit Tonking was appointed sub-professor of the organ to Steggall at the Royal Academy in 1885. Whilst there he had Henry Wood as a pupil and also became organist of Westminster Chapel, and of St Lawrence Jewry. Henry Wood recounts that he stayed at Tonking’s Cornish home, where they gave recitals with H.C. on the violin and himself at the piano or organ at different venues throughout Cornwall. When he was a member of the orchestra of the Royal “Italian Opera” and “Promenade Concerts,” Covent Garden, he gave organ and violin recitals around Great Britain with Bernhard Molique Carrodus. In 1892, H.C. Tonking was engaged by the management of the International Horticultural Exhibition, Earl’s Court, London. From May to October he performed approx. three thousand pieces, in a series of recitals "at the one place and on one instrument" (supplied by Messrs. Lewis & Co. of Brixton). This was claimed to be “The Biggest Programme on Earth” It was on the organ that H.C. Tonking made his name, appearing at all the international exhibitions, often in great demand playing at the Crystal Palace and Bow & Bromley Institute. He frequently gave recitals at the Royal Albert Hall Willis Organ (1895-1905). On 6 August 1904 at the Promenade Concerts, H.C. Tonking premiered the Italian Organ “Maestro” Enrico Bossi's Concerto in A minor (Op. 100) for Organ and Orchestra. (Proms Archive) Later in life, he returned to Cornwall where he became organist of the Parish