W. R. Knox


William Robert Knox, generally known as W. R. Knox, was an organist in Adelaide, South Australia.

History

Knox was born in Adelaide, the eldest son of John Knox, jun, and his wife Eliza Annie Nairn Knox, née Morton of "Kirkwall", William Street, Norwood.
He was a visiting teacher of piano at Prince Alfred College. One who profited from his instruction was the Lord Mayor C. R. J. Glover.
He succeeded T. H. Jones as organist for the Brougham Place Congregational Church, serving from 1902 to 1919, when he was followed by Frederick Bevan, then George Griffiths in 1931.
He began in 1912 the tradition of free Sunday morning organ recitals at the Adelaide Town Hall. Louis Yemm deputised for him in July and August 1912.
Knox followed T. H. Jones as City Organist in 1923 and served until 1928. The appointment of his successor was attended by controversy: John Dempster was appointed without any competitive evaluation, and eminent musicians John Horner, Frederic Finlay and W. Lawrence Haggitt, who had all applied, signed a public letter airing their sense of injustice, clearly implying he was a poor choice. Knox refrained from comment.
He died after a short illness and his remains were interred in the West Terrace Cemetery.
An obituary photograph of Knox was published wearing starched collar and magnificent whiskers.

Family

William Robert Knox married Adelle Martha Goss on 10 April 1884. Their family included:
They had a home on Magill Road, Tranmere
His sister Ada Knox was a well-known singer who was frequently accompanied by her brother on piano. She married Edgar Charles Thurston on 14 September 1912.
His uncle, Nathaniel Alexander Knox was a partner in the legal firm Knox, Gwynne and Hargrave with E C Gwynne and C T Hargrave. He founded the suburb Knoxville.