Processional. Richard Lloyd

Richard Hey Lloyd (25 June 1933 – 24 April 2021) was a British organist and composer.

Richard Lloyd was born near Stockport, Cheshire, the younger of two children of Charles Yates Lloyd, an accountant, and his wife Ann Lloyd (née Hey). He was a chorister of Lichfield Cathedral (1942–47) and was educated at Rugby School (1947–51) where he held a music scholarship. He studied at Jesus College, Cambridge, where he was an organ scholar (1952–55). His teachers included Peter Le Huray, Philip Radcliffe and Patrick Hadley. He took the Music Tripos and held the Cambridge degree of MA as well as the FRCO and ARCM diplomas.

After National Service he was organist and choirmaster at SHAPE near Paris. From 1957 to 1966 he was assistant organist of Salisbury Cathedral under Christopher Dearnley. In 1966 he was appointed Organist and Master of the Choristers of Hereford Cathedral. He was chief conductor at the Hereford Three Choirs Festival in 1967, 1970 and 1973. In 1974 he moved to Durham on his appointment as Organist and Master of the Choristers of Durham Cathedral. In 1985 he became deputy headmaster of Salisbury Cathedral School. Ill health forced his early retirement in 1988.

In later life Lloyd resided in Leominster, Herefordshire. After retiring, he divided his time between examining (he was an examiner for the ABRSM for 44 years) and composing. Other titles and positions which he held were Mem. Council, RCO, 1974–93. FRSA, and Hon FGCM 2006.

"Lloyd devoted much of his life to composition and his distinctive choral music can be heard regularly at services all over the world." "Composing was always a central part of his musical life; he produced around 600 compositions and arrangements, many of which were written during his time in Durham. He has been an inspiration to many musicians, writing accessible, beautifully crafted music of very high quality for both parish and cathedral choirs." According to Gramophone (magazine), Richard Lloyd's music “stands out as some of the most rewarding church music of our time”. In 2010 he received a Fellowship (FRSCM) of the Royal School of Church Music.

He died in Hereford on 24 April 2021 after a short illness and is survived by his wife Teresa Morwenna (née Willmott, whom he married in 1962) and four daughters.

Played on Hauptwerk sample set of Friesach, Austria. Thumbnail of the composer in 1966