EDGAR BOUCHER: Edgar Boucher, known to all as Billy, the former director of music at BBC Northern Ireland, was born in Dublin in 1918. His family, which had Huguenot ancestry, lived in the Liberties, the heart of the city.
A family tree reveals that many were artisans, craftsmen such as guilders, but that many were also involved with the church as musicians or in an administrative capacity.
His father, George, worked for a firm of decorators and house painters, but was also verger of St Catherine's Church in Thomas Street. His mother, Catherine, had worked in a laundry before her marriage.
From these humble beginnings, they began their married life and, according to family lore, the first purchase for their new house, before they had a table or chair, was a piano.
Neither of them could play, although they had a great love of music, but Catherine Boucher had a very keen musical ear and would pick out tunes on the piano, singing in tonic solfa.
Their purchase, seen by many as folly, was vindicated when so many of their family went on to become accomplished musicians.
The Protestant ascendancy class of the big house has been well documented by Irish writers. When one of Billy Boucher's relatives suggested he write an autobiography describing his Protestant working class background in Dublin he declined with typical modesty, saying no one would be interested in it.
He went to St Patrick's Cathedral as a choirboy, and began organ lessons with the cathedral organist George Hewson. This was the start of his musical career and of his lifelong love for the liturgy and musical traditions of the Church of Ireland.
His parents were enormously proud when he, the first of his family, won a scholarship to Trinity College, Dublin.
There he took his B.Mus and later D.Mus degrees. Like many of his contemporaries, Brian Boydell, Havelock Nelson and Joseph Groocock, he also studied other subjects.
At one time he thought he would train for the church, and to that end he studied what was then called mental and moral science at Trinity. However, his true calling was to be music and he became a committed church musician - assistant organist of Christ Church Cathedral and well known as a choir director in Dublin.
Shortly before taking his doctorate, he moved to Belfast to become director of music at BBC Northern Ireland.
He became a well-known public figure in the North, particularly for his presentations of the popular Songs of Praise series on television, where his relaxed and genial approach hid serious and scholarly research into the history of hymns.
He was also in much demand as an adjudicator and examiner, travelling to such places as Canada and Hong Kong to various music festivals.
The tragic death of his only child, Meriel, and the death from cancer of his beloved wife, Peggy, would have crushed a lesser man, leaving him defeated and bitter. Billy, however, remained positive and philosophical throughout adversity. He loved life - music, books, food and wine - but above all the company of friends and family.
Some weeks ago he went into hospital, hoping for an operation that might prolong his life. When he learnt it was not to be, he faced the future with the courage and fortitude which characterised his life. He returned home to spend his final days among familiar surrounding.
A week ago today, he watched Mozart's opera The Magic Flute on television. Shortly afterwards, he sat back, closed his eyes and was gone.
He was fond of telling the story of a famous conductor who, when asked what sort of music might be heard in heaven, replied: "When God is with his angels, I think they play Bach. But when the angels are by themselves, they play Mozart."
It was fitting that last Sunday, the day after he died, the Gospel of the day , read throughout Christendom, including his beloved Church of Ireland, quoted the words of the Nunc Dimittis: "Lord, now lettest thou they servant depart in peace, according to thy word."
There are no more fitting words for his epitaph.
Edgar "Billy" Boucher: born December 5th 1918; died February 1st, 2003.