A talented organist and much loved choirmaster and centenarian has died.

Robert (Bob) Caudwell was well known to worshippers at St Nicholas Church in Linton where he had been the organist for 24 years after seeing the post advertised in the Kent Messenger newspaper.

He also helped out at All Saints Church in West Farleigh when they found themselves short-handed.

Mr Caudwell, from Blue Bell Hill, Maidstone, was said to be able to play every hymn from memory without music and took pride in only ever missing one rehearsal in his long career.

That included choir practice every Saturday, and church services on Sunday.

Since Covid, church services and choral singing have been severely limited, but Mr Caudwell played at the last service where music was permitted on March 8 last year.

Kath Cooper from Linton, who worships at St Nicholas, had known Mr Caudwell for his whole time at the church. She said: "He was a brilliant organist. But he didn't just play hymns."

"We would hold a cream tea event before Mothering Sunday each year and Bob would come for two hours playing songs from the shows - it was great fun!"

Mrs Cooper was also full of praise for Mr Caudwell's achievements with the choir.

She said: "It's a small choir and getting rather elderly, but Bob achieved some wonderful things with him and they loved him!"

Mr Caudwell was born in Nottinghamshire, the youngest of three sons. His father was a gardener. He started playing the organ at 14.

He was called up to the army in 1940 and spent six years as a trooper with the Liverpool Welsh Tank Regiment, serving in Egypt, North Africa, Greece and Sicily, and after the end of the war, he was part of the British contingent supporting the government side in the Greek Civil War.

He also conducted an army choir during the Second World War, with three of his concerts broadcast on the BBC.

Returning to civilian life in 1946, he worked as a maths, science and music teacher, gaining a professional diploma from the Royal Academy of Music, and he was awarded the prestigious Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists.

He officially retired in 1980, though he continued to give private piano lessons. His wife predeceased him and finding himself single again, he moved to Maidstone in 1996 to be closer to his son, John, and at once signed up as choirmaster and organist at St Nicholas Church.

Outside of music, his main interest was foreign travel and he undertook several long haul trips with his friend from church, Margaret Howe.

She said: "Bob was a remarkable man. Very loving and kind, extremely reliable and terribly gifted. He was my best beloved friend and companion."

He celebrated his 100th birthday on June 24, last year. He died at home on Wednesday January 27, from prostate cancer.

He leaves a daughter-in-law, Judith, and two teenage grandchildren, twins Fred and George, both at university.

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