Margaret Roper and Her Music

My mother, Margaret Roper studied violin, piano and mandolin at the Royal College of Music and passed all three with honours.

Later in her life she played in a group with her mandolin.  She was also a founder member of the Basildon Choral Society. I still have their very first programme.  They performed in the Methodist Church in Langdon Hills around 1958/59 and I have so many old pictures.

Mum played 1st violin in an orchestra with Mr Curtis as Conductor.  They performed many shows, including Gilbert and Sullivan operas.

Very sadly she died in 1989.

The first photo below was taken at the Memorial Hall.

The second and third photo shows my mum a few years later in the back row with tall hat and umbrella.  She had written on the back that she played the Emperor’s Adviser in the Chinese opera HOKI-POKI – HIPI HIPI TOP TOP.

The fourth photo taken in 1922, shows mum aged just 16 playing her violin.

The fifth and sixth photos show mum, second in front row of the orchestra.