Tributes for Larkhall music teacher Moira Rae Kerr

Jan 21 2010 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

TRIBUTES were paid this week to well-known Larkhall music teacher Moria Rae Kerr, who died recently at the age of 70 years.

Miss Kerr passed away in her sleep at her home in Wilkie Crescent, Hareleeshill, on December 27.

She had been suffering ill health.

About 180 people attended her funeral which was held at Dalserf Church on Tuesday, January 5.

She was later laid to rest at Larkhall Cemetery.

Afterwards family and friends attended tea provided by Dalserf Church Women’s Guild at Rorison Church, Ashgill.

Moira’s sister Helen, of Almada Tower, Hamilton, said: “Moria was a very popular and clever woman.

“She had a lovely nature and was always laughing.

“Music, teaching and the church were her life.

“She taught music until a fortnight before she died.

“She was well-known in Larkhall. All the taxi drivers knew her as she took a taxi everywhere she went.

“She was always wanting to help people and would never say no.

“She didn’t keep well as she was asthmatic and her death was related to problems with her lungs.

“She never smoked or drank.”

Moira was born in 1939, one of four children to George, a musician who played trombone with the Scottish Variety Orchestra, and May Kerr, a housewife. She was brought up in Raploch Street and had two older sisters Helen (77), and 72-year-old Anne with whom lived all of her life.

Her brother Harry, was a trumpet player with the Salvation Army in Larkhall.

While on his way to play at the Edinburgh Cenotaph in 1969, he was tragically killed in a road accident.

A young Moria attended Machanhill Primary School and Larkhall Academy.

When she was 14 years old, she travelled to Strathaven to learn to play the piano.

Moira, who played piano, organ and accordion, formed her own music school after graduating from the Academy of Music in Glasgow.

While a student, she worked as a shop assistant at the Co-op store in Union Street.

A teacher of piano and music theory, for the past 45 years she taught hundreds of adults and children in Larkhall.

And some pupils came as far away is Glasgow to join her highly respected school.

She played the organ at churches and school assemblies in the Larkhall area.

Moira was a secretary of Larkhall Burns Club and was heavily involved in the Larkhall Burns’ school competitions for more than 30 years.

She also played piano at the Lanarkshire Association of Burns Club.

In May 2008, she was proud to have been presented with a rose by the president of the World Federation of Burns Clubs at the National Schools Festival in Kirriemuir, Angus.

She was made an honorary member of Larkhall Burns Club in 2008.

Moira was the organist at Dalserf Parish Church for the past 25 years and a member of the church’s women’s guild.

A number of years ago, she reformed Dalserf Church Choir after the church had been without a choir since the 1970s.

She arranged many concerts at Dalserf Church and Rorison Church and organised concert parties involving members of Dalserf.

Some of her pupils entertained local church women’s guilds, Harleeshill and Larkhall pensioners’ groups, The Friendship Circle and also the men’s fellowship at St Machan’s Church.

Moria also played the organ at funeral services which were held at the Co-op Funeral Care premises in Montgomery Street, Larkhall, for more than 15 years.

Moira was one of the first committee members of the Lanarkshire Society of Organists and was their librarian for many years.

She was also a member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians.

Rev. Cameron McPherson, minister at Dalserf Church, said: “The most significant part of Moira Kerr was not her music ability or success as a piano teacher or even her generosity or kindness but her Christian faith. Her faith underpinned everything she did. It was the most important thing in her life.”