each year since 1981. During George Guest's tenure, the choir undertook many overseas tours. In 1987 Guest was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours. Herbert Howells and Michael Tippett are among the many composers who wrote liturgical settings for the St. John's College choir whilst George Guest was organist and choirmaster. They also include the French composer Jean Langlais, who wrote a setting of the psalm Beatus vir for the choir: a rare occurrence of a Continental composer writing for the English cathedral tradition. Organ Scholars who studied under George Guest include: Sir David Lumsden (Southwell Minster, New College, Oxford, Principal of the Royal Academy of Music, London) Brian Runnett (organist, Norwich Cathedral) Jonathan Bielby (organist, Wakefield Cathedral) Jonathan Rennert (St Michael's, Cornhill) David Hill (choral director) (sub-organist, Durham Cathedral; organist, Westminster Cathedral; organist, Winchester Cathedral; organist and choirmaster, St John's College, Cambridge; now Chief Conductor, BBC Singers) Robert Huw Morgan (University Organist, Stanford Memorial Church) Adrian Lucas (organist, Worcester Cathedral) Andrew Lumsden (Southwark Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Lichfield Cathedral, Winchester Cathedral) Sir Stephen Cleobury (King's College, Cambridge) John Scott (St Paul's Cathedral, London, and subsequently St Thomas Fifth Avenue, New York City) Andrew Nethsingha (Truro Cathedral; Gloucester Cathedral; Organist and Director of Music, St John's College, Cambridge) Miscellaneous George Guest was a guest on Desert Island Discs in 1976 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/desert-island-discs/castaway/a5168c08#p009n0jz). He was a lifelong supporter of Chester City FC. The famous British baritone Simon Keenlyside was a chorister and subsequently a choral scholar in the choir of St John's College, Cambridge while George Guest was the choirmaster there. Actor Clive Mantle was another chorister at St. John's. References obituary The Guardian Guest, George (1994) A Guest at Cambridge, Paraclete Press . External links Interview with George Guest, 3 September 1986 1924 births 2002 deaths Fellows of St John's College, Cambridge Alumni of St John's College, Cambridge Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Welsh classical organists British male organists Cathedral organists People from Gwynedd People from Bangor, Gwynedd People educated at Friars School, Bangor Fellows of the Royal College of Organists Welsh choral conductors British male conductors (music) 20th-century organists 20th-century British conductors (music) 20th-century British male musicians Royal Air Force personnel of World War II Male classical organists