James Edward Adkins


James Edward Adkins FRCO was an Irish organist and composer.

Background

He was born on 14 December 1867 in Belfast, the son of James Adkins and Emma Ryan. He studied at the Royal College of Music and trained at Ely Cathedral under the organist, Edmund Thomas Chipp.
He married Louisa Day on 29 July 1889 in Richmond Upon Thames. They had three children:
His son James Francis Basil Adkins, a Private in the 2nd Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment, was killed in Flanders on 1 Oct 1917.
His other son Eric was also a fine musician. Both Basil and Eric were st Paul's Cathedral choir boys.
Whilst in Preston he was conductor of the Preston Amateur Operatic Society 1895 - 1901, Conductor of Chorley Choral Society, 1890 – 1891, and Conductor of Preston Choral Society, 1905 - 1907.
He died on 4 January 1939 in Amounderness, Lancashire.

Appointments

He composed