Francean Campbell-Rich
Writer, Artist
Christ's Church Cathedral
I was born when babies were still born at home. Aunt Annie, who made it just on time, delivered me. Towser, the dog, licked my face. The house at 239 College St. in Toronto, is the site of a public library now. When I was in school, the library was just a block away. I read nearly all the children's books there, if I could reach them.
About fifteen schools later, I took an ATCM in piano at the Conservatory, then a MusBac at the Faculty of Music. My teachers were Ernest MacMillan, Healey Willan, Ettore Mazzoleni, and a few others - all of them heavenwards now. Then I went west, to Mills College, near San Francisco, where I studied with Darius Milhaud, did an MA in composition and modern dance. It was wartime. I was 'conscripted' into service with the British Army Staff. and the British Consulate-General. After that, the San Franicisco Chronicle - and here began my life in journalism. I returned to Canada, and in due course became music critic for the Vancouver Province.
Some years later, after a couple of years travel - by sea to the Far East, then Europe, mostly France - I returned to Canada, met my husband, John Rich, shared his many interests in sailing, country life, Irish Wolfhounds, and more. After his death in 1980, I first tried television production, then to church music, as organist and choirmaster. and finally theology, at Trinity.
I settled in Hamilton, to be near Toronto, felt comfortable here, bought a house with a big garden, was adopted by Abby, a cat, and here I remain.
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