It is with great sadness that we announce the recent passing of 1st Alto choir member, Elizabeth Peace.

Elizabeth was a member of the choir until September 2020, when, with sadness, she decided it was “time to hang up my red scarf” as unfortunately she was due to start treatment for a recent “health blip” but “looked forward to enjoying being a member of the audience” into the future.

Elizabeth recently reminisced that she had “sung in a variety of choirs since leaving school and joined Cantata when she came to live on the Isle of Wight in 1975, 45 years ago! She enjoyed the challenge of learning new music and the pleasure of singing well-loved works again”. 

She remarked that she had “made many friends through the choir and particularly enjoyed singing with the choir from Reading at the Oratory School and in Portsmouth Guildhall”, in years gone by. Also, looking back on “the memorable celebrations of joining with so many others in the Royal Albert Hall as part of our 60th Anniversary”.

When Elizabeth joined Cantata “it was run as part of the Education Authority Evening Classes, later becoming independent”, and remembered that “many years ago I took on the roll of temporary treasurer while the post holder was on maternity leave, two children later & after eleven years I handed the job over”. 

Elizabeth was a truly lovely lady, who will be missed by many members and the choir as a whole.

In earlier years Elizabeth was a history teacher at Upper Chine School for Girls.

Elizabeth was also the current PCC Hon. Secretary and a Lay Reader for St Olave’s Church, Gatcombe.

Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this sad time.