Portsmouth Music Scene


The Portsmouth Music Scene

Reginald Charles Wassell MBE, LRAM, ARCM




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A younger Reg Wassell


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An older and greyer Reg Wassell


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At the height of his popularity


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7-5-1954, Reg Wassell at school

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23-4-1959

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19-11-1959

reg wassell In the 60s at the Techx

Reg Wassell in the 60s at the Tech

Reginald Charles Wassell, was born in Portsmouth on 6th October 1908 and died, age 77, at "St Cecelia", 28 Carmarthen Avenue, East Cosham, Portsmouth, Hampshire, on 15th September 1986. He never married, but had a sister Dorothy who sang with him in the St Cecelia Singers. He was a music teacher at the Portsmouth Building School, situated in the building at the east end of Cosham Park Avenue. His sister Dorothy May Ellison Wassell, who often sang with him in concert, died age 83 on 12th June 1993.

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The choir of St Ann's Church in Portsmouth Dockyard with Reg standing far left


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Portsmouth NEWS, 17th Septrember 1986


A few comment about Reg from Facebook members;-

He used to come to Langstone Girls’ School in the 1960s to lead us in singing, at the invitation of the esteemed Miss Catherine Stewart.

I knew her and one of her sisters, Lilian Stewart, taught many of us at Somers Road Junior Mixed, as it was known then.

A big name in the Portsmouth music world. My teacher at Langstone Junior School (will mention no names!) had the hots for him!!.

Wonderful choir leader really got the best out of any choir he conducted.

A great teacher at the Tech and a really nice man.

He was the music master at the Technical High School and choirmaster at St Anne’s church in HM Dockyard.

I was both his pupil at the Tech and a chorister at St Anne’s. A fine teacher. I believe he was awarded an MBE for services to music in the city.

Lovely Man.great musician.my teacher at the Portsmouth Building school.also he took the RI class.happy days.

He taught Ray Shulman music at Portsmouth Technical High School.

How wonderful to see Reg Wassell again, sang in his choirs many times.

He came to Copnor modern secondary school for girls sometimes our music teacher Miss Reynolds quite liked him.

Well respected music teacher when I was at the Tech. Taught me the violin for two years - until I foolishly packed it in.

He was very involved with the Portsmouth Schools Music Festival. Great musician.

Such a special, unique, lovely gentleman. I remember him well.

I think he was the man who came to Wimborne R in the early 50s and taught us the sol-fah scale, using lots of hand movements.

He was the Music Teacher at the Portsmouth Technical High School when I was a pupil there until 1966, he was also the choirmaster I believe in St Ann's Church in the Dockyard. I believe David Rudling (PE teacher) played the Organ.

I also remember him, 'til I left in 66. An enthusiastic extrovert, unlike any other teacher.

Remember him well. Used to go to concerts at the Kings & he would come to school To tell us about the music & How it was formed.

A lovely man and enthusiastic musician. He introduced me to the world of classical music, particularly Bach. I was in the choir at St. Anne's Church as well as the Technical High. I knew his sister as well. I believe she was married to the deputy head of the Tech. High a Mr Ellison. They all lived in Carmarthan Road in Drayton I think. Dave Rudling I knew from Hospital Radio as he used to do the football commentaries while I handled some of the Technical stuff.

They know they were wrong thousands of kids have gone to 'uni' to do courses that were covered by technical schools and polytechs (remember them?) Or if you were like my dad n my ex you got your apprenticship, higher qualifications and subsequent degrees at NIGHT SCHOOL. Thank goodness someones had the sense to reintroduce schools. Maybe it can be followed by stopping kids going t 'uni' to do meejah (media) studies Here endeth the rant.

I owe a lot to him as well. Got me to appreciate music of all types. Never got to thank him.

A very fine musician.

Best teacher at Portsmouth tech, as usual never appreciated until years gone by. Still remember the music room. Wish I'd taken advantage of his talents when I was there.

He tried to teach me music in my first year at Tech High unfortunately for him as I'm not musically minded but I do love listening to music!.

Mr Wassall when at the Building School, used to organise great singing events at St Marys Church.

Remember him well , we used to go to the boys school and practise with them for the joint schools concert at the Guildhall.

Such a wonderful inspiration to us all as children teaching us the thrill of music.Wonderful times in his school choirs.

Warmly remember him conducting joint schools events in the late '60s or early '70s. remember him?.

What a great man, he was also choirmaster of Saint Anne’s church in the dockyard. I also remember the concerts in the Guildhall which he organised and was the conductor. I remember singing Jerusalem, the words of which I still remember to this day.

Bill Seager says he also remembers seeing mr wassell on the tv when songs of praise was presented from st marys church possibly late sixties or early seventies.

I remember at the Tech near end of term he said we had been listening to his music for a while so the following week we could bring in our rock and roll records to play. I don't think he really liked their sound but it was a great lesson that day.

Fond memories of a fine teacher at the Tech. I recall he was brother in law of Mr Ellison who Deputy Head during my time. When we performed The Messiah in the school hall, my mother pulled back one of the curtains to find Scruff Evans leering in at her.

Star Musician!.

My music teacher at Ports Tech 64/68.

I was in the choir at Solent Rd Junior School and we attended many music festivals and competitions and Reg Wassell was always there as was Mrs McGee , our scary music teacher !.

A lovely Reg Wassell fine musician story. In the mid 1960's there was a massed Brass Band Concert at the Portsmouth Guildhall, conducted by Jimmy Edwards. The finale was the 1812 Overture with Reg Wassell as guest artiste at the then lovely Guildhall Organ, with the afternoon rehearsal going well. Sadly during the concert Jimmy Edwards with his "Fly-swatting style of conducting" lost the plot just before the fortissimo conclusion of the 1812 where all hell breaks loose with cannon fire (several Bass Drums), Tubular Bells and brought the Massed Band in a bar early. Reg Wassell was counting his bars properly and of course came in at the right place. Some Band members followed Reg, others stuck with the Band and the rest panicked, crossing between the two live versions to try and work out what to do. Meanwhile Jimmy Edwards is by now sweating profusely, swatting several swarms of flies with arms in different directions and definitely not in control. The 1812 last chord was saved by Reg holding it on ffff and we all finished together! Well done Reg Wassell!!.

I was privileged to know and work with Reg in the last few years of his life when he was organist and choirmaster at Church of the Resurrection. A very talented musician and a true gentleman.

He was my teacher too!1961-1965!.

I remember him. My teacher, Miss Stewart really liked him.

Remember him from pre Tech High school days at Cosham Park House room 2.

I remember him being a guest at our secondary school when we held musical events many years ago.

A mild-mannered man and very gentle until he was behind his baton, then you didn't dare step out of line. He really got the best out of his musicians. Remember singing in The Messiah at the Tech., playing the flute for Elijah (if my memory doesn't ley me down). The latter was recorded and an LP produced (still have mine somewhere).

He was a lovely man, one of the few nice teachers.

I remember him , great teacher - we sang at the Guildhall ,.

“Portsmouth’s mr Music” - as described by The Evening News.

He was my teacher too. I never worked out how he managed to conduct, play the piano and drink a cup of coffee and instruct a class of boys during lunch hour all at the same time. ! A wonderful musician and a wonderful man!.

His two golden rules in class ! 1 don’t call out. 2 don’t leave your seats with asking. He also has a plan of the class and had every boy’s name within a couple days. He always made us feel individual and special.

Reginal Wassell was a great Portsmouth musician. Was conducted once by him in St Mary's, Portsea, in a performance of Haydn's Creation, which gave me the love of this work. He must have given hundreds of school children the love of music in various formats - organ, vocal, choral tradition and everything inbetween.

He was a lovely talented multi tasking man.

He was my music teacher at portsmouth. portsmouth building school in 1953

He was my teacher too. I never worked out how he managed to conduct, play the piano and drink a cup of coffee and instruct a class of boys during lunch hour all at the same time. ! A wonderful musician and a wonderful man!

His two golden rules in class ! 1 don’t call out. 2 don’t leave your seats without asking. He also has a plan of the class and had every boy’s name within a couple days. He always made us feel individual and special

Reginal Wassell was a great Portsmouth musician. Was conducted once by him in St Mary's, Portsea, in a performance of Haydn's Creation, which gave me the love of this work. He must have given hundreds of school children the love of music in various formats - organ, vocal, choral tradition and everything inbetween.

When I was at St John’s School,we often sang at the RNB in the Portsmouth Massed Choirs and Reginald Wassell always conducted us.

I remember him conducting lots of schools at the Guildhall one evening. I’m pretty sure it was on the same night that the film ‘Tommy’ caused the fire in The Pier. Mr Wassell was very keen on speaking properly and he made all the children practise saying ‘who, what, where and when’ saying the ‘h’ before the ‘w’ . Odd the things you remember!

He wrote a song about 1972 or 1973 called ‘Heavens Light our Guide’ our school performed at the Guildhall in the 70’s

An absolute genius on the piano and organ and a beautiful baritone voice. Irreplaceable and lovely memories


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