We are grateful to the Marsyas Trio for performing a special concert this lunchtime in memory of Tom Butler who organised our Wednesday and Thursday recitals here for over twelve years. 

Michael Gammie, who assisted Tom and now organises the recital series, introduced the Trio and told us about Tom’s dedicated service here.  

We think Tom first came to St Olave Hart Street when he worked at a law firm in nearby Lloyds Avenue. He got to know the person organising the concerts in those days and later took over the running of them. 

Tom took a great interest in the careers of the students, keeping in contact with them many years after their first performances here. Olga Stezhko of the Marsyas Trio explained that her first contact with Tom was in 2008 and the last message from him two months before he died a few months ago. 

Before performing Pagodes, the first movement of Debussy’s 1903 piano suite Estampes, Olga read three short poems that Tom had written in response to the three movements of the suite. 

Michael explained that Tom was a gifted artist, designing all the posters for the concerts he organised here and in Blackheath – and that he would often sketch the performers during rehearsals and recitals, presenting his sketches to them afterwards. 

Thank you to Michael for organising this special concert and to Olga and Helen and Valerie of the Marsyas Trio for the beautiful musical tribute to Tom Butler this lunchtime 

We are very grateful to Michael Gammie and Richard Ciecierski who devote many hours organising, publicising and hosting our popular weekly Wednesday and Thursday lunchtime recital programme here at St Olave Hart Street.