THE director of music at a Headington church will pay tribute to an Oxford University student who died over the Christmas period.

Ghislaine Reece-Trapp, 22, was appointed as director of music at All Saints Church in Lime Walk last July, and planned to start the new year with a set of concert recitals.

Oxford Mail:

James Trickey, 22

But on December 23, she heard that her friend 22-year-old Peterborough Cathedral chorister James Trickey died after being hit by a car while cycling.

She will now host the church’s first free recital in memory of her friend tonight at 8pm.

Our top stories

Miss Reece-Trapp, who met Mr Trickey when they both studied at Christ Church Oxford, said: “It was a complete shock, it’s still hard to think that he has gone.”

The performers at the recital, singer Edward Kay accompanied on piano by Michael Hickman, also attended Christ Church and knew Mr Trickey well.

Geography student Mr Trickey was awarded a choral scholarship at Christ Church and became friends with Miss Reece-Trapp, an organ scholar at the college.

She said: “He was absolutely fascinated by the weather.

“When it snowed one year and the choir went out to have a snow-ball fight, he was running the other way to measure how much snow had fallen.”

The Cheltenham-born chorister was described as “humble” and multi-talented.

Miss Reece-Trapp said: “He never bragged about his achievements, and some of us only found out some of the stuff he’d done after he died.”

Mr Trickey’s mother Sue, of Cheltenham, said: “There’s no words for the loss really. There are no words.

“He was a real gem of a person who touched the lives of so many people.”

Speaking of the Oxford tribute, she added: “I think it’s wonderful. It’s a nice occasion to go down there and reflect on James’s life. He loved music and singing and this is something to go to and meet up with his friends and just remember James.”

One of Mr Trickey’s own compositions was performed at his funeral, which was held at Gloucester Cathedral on January 7.

Wine and soft drinks will be served after the recital.

There is no entry charge to the recital, but donations to the church fund are welcome.


  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.