The Grammar School at Leeds is an exciting project whereby two major public schools have come together. A merger between Leeds Grammar School (founded in 1552) and Leeds Girls High School (founded in 1876) The school caters for pupils from junior (years 3 to 6) right up to A level students

Director of Music Mr Andrew Wheeler asked Anthony Bogdan Organs to source two pre-owned organs for practice purposes for the pupils. One was for the School Chapel and one for the Tebb Room, the main reharsal room in the school. Anthony was able to supply a Viscount Jubileum 232 and a Rogers 520 for the chapel. Robert Tebb is a benefactor of the school and has donated a scholarship award. A potted history of Roberts career is outlined below.

Anthony Bogdan Organs Ltd. is proud to be associated with such a fine music department grooming our next generation of organists at such an excellent school

 

 

A Benefactor of Leeds Grammar School

Robert Tebb

Known as Bob Tebb, he started piano lessons age 7 and sang in all male choir at Headingley Methodist Church Leeds. Took organ lessons at St.Chads Parish Church, Leeds from the then Organist Percy Richardson on the Harrison and Harrison three manual organ At a later stage learnt from Herbert Bardgett, former Chorus Master of the famous Huddersfield Choral Society. Herbert Bardgett was music master at Leeds Grammar School during the second world war.

Bob was evacuated with the school to the dales village of Burnsall in 1940 aged 13. where he played the harmonium at Burnsall Methodist Church with boys from the school forming the Choir.

With Brother Brian and pupils from the school he gave a concert party in the village hall in aid of The Lord Mayor of Londons Freedom from Hunger Campaign.This was his first venture on stage.

Returning to Leeds he was organist at Belle Vue Methodist Church and at that time the youngest regular church organist in Leeds. He played at two performances with The Negro American Choir visiting the district.

In 1943 just after leaving school he was on fire watching duty every Friday Night at Leeds Grammar School and used to play the piano in the blacked out school assemble Hall. The art master Reggie Brittain liked to be on duty these occasions to listen to his playing. Many sing-songs around the piano with pints of beer placed on the top for Bob-but he was strictly teetotal and never drank during his army days and ever since never had a liking for the taste of beer, just the occasional Gin and Tonic.

In 20th December 1944 Bob joined the army in Lanark, Scotland. As a raw recruit of only four days he was invited to play the piano in the Sergeants Mess on Christmas Day.

Moving to Larkhill no Salisbury Plain Bob regularly played the organ at the Garrison Church and also at Amesbury Methodist Church.

In 1948 returned to Leeds and back to Headingley Methodist Church where in 1950 he started a concert party named The Headingley Players formed from members of the youth group and thus became a self taught Musical Director.

After ten years of annual performances for five nights and 200 capacity schoolroom sell out he moved in 1961 to Leeds Civic Theatre and founded Headingley Amateur Operatic Society.

In 1964 started ‘Sounding Brass and Voices’ concerts in Leeds Town Hall with a choir of 200 voices and well known local brass bands .The concerts had an invited celebrity singer and Compere. These concerts ran for 25 years together with Annual Christmas Concert, both always a sell-out

Bob played two weeks each year at the Civic Theatre with Saturday matinees to capacity audiences, finally taking the big step to move to Leeds Grand Theatre in 1972 with a production of Merrie England playing for a week to a capacity nightly audience of 1500

Bob, now aged 81, retired from the theatre and concert hall in 2000 having conducted 50 different musicals and over 500 performances in the theatre and in the concert hall.
For twenty five years he was Chairman of Leeds College of Music and Deputy Administrator of The Leeds International Pianoforte Competition.

Bob conducted Songs of Praise from Leeds General Infirmary on BBC1 and directed The English Summer School of Light Opera at Girton College, Cambridge,

As an old boy of Leeds Grammar School he was Treasurer of the Old Leos for thirteen years and Secretary of the Old Leos Rigby Club and founder executive of the Old Leos Club. At their fourth Centenary Celebration in 1952 organised events which raised £2800 in two days and also organised their Annual Summer Balls for many years.

The Robert Tebb Trust provides scholarships and prizes for young muscians at Leeds Grammar School, Leeds College of Music and other educational organisations

The organ in the assembly Hall at The Grammar School at Leeds was funded by the Bartlett Trust and The Robert Tebb Trust as a joint venture after which the organ was named ‘The Bartlett Organ’ and the main rehearsal room in the School ‘The Robert Tebb Room’.