Martin Neary (1940-2025)

The organist and choirmaster, famous primarily for his role in directing and shaping the music for the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, has died aged 85.

Born in London right in the middle of a wartime air-raid, Neary’s schooling began as an evacuee in Wales; after the war ended he became a chorister at the Chapels Royal, involving him from an early age in events close to the Royal Family - the christening of the then Prince Charles, the lying-in-state of George VI, and of course the coronation of the late Elizabeth II. 

At school and university he combined his musical studies with a keen love of cricket - his recently-published autobiography Time to Declare reflects the interweaving of these two strands throughout his life. An appointment to Winchester Cathedral followed in Neary’s early thirties, with an initial bid to move to Westminster Abbey eight years later. This time the formidable Simon Preston (1938-2022) pipped Neary to the post, but his second application in 1988 saw him finally take the helm at the Abbey. 

It was here that he shot to unexpected fame following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997 - Neary had long been a champion of the music of John Tavener, and his decision to include the haunting Song for Athene in turn made that work an iconic favourite, a status it retains to this day. By all accounts Neary was deeply engaged with the funeral arrangements - despite his reputation for demanding the highest standards, he encouraged his young trebles to mentally put themselves in the shoes of the young Prince Harry and empathise with his loss. His work at the Abbey, and in particular around the funeral, which was widely hailed as a huge musical success, was recognised by the Queen appointing him Lieutenant of the Royal Victorial Order (LVO). 

Murky dealings began to surface shortly thereafter, which have continued to overshadow Neary’s musical achievements in a way that is perhaps unjustified. As so often, it is difficult to sift through the partisan accounts and form an objective assessment of what ‘really’ happened. Some of those close to Neary (his wife Penny among them) certainly felt that his sudden prominence had attracted resentment and precipitated a turn towards cold-shoulder treatment from the Abbey’s clergy and staff.

The Nearys had previously established a kind of holding company to handle their musical engagements - in hindsight perhaps foolhardy, though with no obvious ulterior intent - and not long after Diana’s funeral, the Dean took the view that this had been a breach of trust, summarily dismissing Martin from his post. The resulting legal fight drew in the Queen herself (via the Abbey’s particular status as a Royal Peculiar subject to the direct jurisdiction of the monarch), and when the dust settled there was no clear-cut victor. The Abbey’s procedures and approach were scathingly criticised, yet the dismissal itself stood. Neary and his wife avoided ruination, and in latter years he expressed no bitterness towards his former employers. 

Following the conclusion of the Abbey saga, Neary spent some time in the USA directing church choirs, particularly in Los Angeles, describing this as a kind of ‘agreeable exile’, before returning to the British music scene with performances at the Proms and some genial appearances as a part-time organist stepping in on Sunday mornings at various churches around London. 

Neary died on September 27th from complications from Parkinson’s Disease; he is survived by his wife Penny, and their children Nicola, Alice and Thomas.