The Reverend Desmond Lionel Morse-Boycott

In appearance he was what one would imagine as a typical country parson of bygone years. He smoked a pipe, wore a skull cap and huge black cape. He began his working life as a journalist, but his ambition was to become a Priest. This was fulfilled when he was ordained in 1924.
 

Fr Desmond Morse-Boycott

Fr Desmond, as he was known far and wide, served his first curacy at the Church of St Mary's, Somers Town, which is situated in the King's Cross, Euston, area of London.

In those days there was a terrible amount of real poverty, particularly within the parish in which Fr Desmond served. He would venture out at night and mingle with young lads on street corners, many of whom he found playing cards and gambling. Often he put himself at physical risk trying to stop the gambling by the young and the more adult members of the population. His intervention worked to varying degrees although this never deterred him. The police in those days had hardly any success in stopping street gambling for there was little else for the men and youngsters to do. Fr Desmond could be very persistent and persuasive, influencing the young and gaining the respect of the old.

He encouraged some of the lads to partake of whatever food he could spare at the time. Coming as they did from poor homes where food was at a premium, such an offer was extremely popular. These boys eventually became the foundation of Fr Desmond's choir and school.

After five years working in the parish, Fr Desmond decided that the majority of the boys needed educating to a much higher standard. With this in mind, he resigned as curate at St Mary's in order to found his school and, from then on, his life became one long struggle. He appealed for donations far and wide with some success. His first home was "under the pavement" in Somers Town. This was where the school began and was called the St Mary of the Angels Song School. Those boys who joined Fr Desmond' s school were given the opportunity to be educated and to be trained to sing in his choir. Because of Fr Desmond's love of music, the boys were also encouraged to play various instruments under a professional tutor.

During a visit to Devon in the Second World War, where the choir was performing concerts and singing in local churches, their home in Addlestone, Surrey, was burned down. This meant a further financial struggle. A suitable house was ultimately found in Beaconsfield where the boys continued to be educated and trained to sing. They travelled far and wide in this country and in France, also giving concerts and singing in churches on Sundays. The choir was often in demand for weddings and funerals. This helped with the income, but Fr Desmond had to make continuous appeals for donations to keep the school a viable proposition. The established Church of England gave no help whatsoever which was a great disappointment to him for all of his life. Fr Desmond's wife died in 1957. She had been the school Matron and had taken care of all the domestic arrangements over the years. She was greatly missed not only by Fr Desmond but also by everyone who knew her.