Queen’s honour for opera singer
JOHN Tomlinson.
A WORLD-FAMOUS opera star from Oswaldtwistle is set to get a knighthood after being named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
John Tomlinson, 58, formerly of Rhyddings Street, who has sung in opera houses all over the world, will receive the title at a ceremony later this year.
He said: “I am delighted to receive this honour as I have always tried to fly the flag for opera and for Britain wherever I have gone in my career.”
John lived in Oswaldtwistle until 1964 and is a former pupil of Hippings Methodist Primary School and the former Accrington Grammar School.
After studying for a degree in civil engineering at Manchester University he won a scholarship to the Royal Manchester College of Music.
His 35-year career has seen him perform all over the world including Berlin, Vancouver, New York, Paris, Amsterdam, Munich, Vienna, Florence and Tokyo.
He now lives in Lewes, West Sussex, and is married to Moya with three children, Abigail, 33, Ellen, 32, and Joseph, 28, and two grandchildren Yasmin and Luca.
Despite his success and being awarded the CBE in 1997, he is still an Oswaldtwistle lad at heart.
He said: “My parents were both from Oswaldtwistle and my grandfather William Greenwood was the first socialist chairman of the council there in the 1920s.
“I owe the people of Oswaldtwistle a lot as much of my passion for music comes from my time there. When I was younger we always used to sing around the piano and I remember singing in assembly at school very well.
“My wife’s mother lives at Carnforth so we still come back to the area to visit her and I still have some friends in Oswaldtwistle.
“Unfortunately I recently hurt my knee on holiday in the Lake District so I hope I will be able to kneel when it comes to the ceremony.”
Also joining the honours list is Rising B