GRENVILLE JONES D.Litt
Grenville enjoys the reputation of being “Bath’s Mr Music!” Now in his 70s, his driving passion is to get people of all ages singing and BELONGING to a group where they can make friends, enjoy themselves and have FUN through music. He thoroughly believes that “everyone can sing” and that singing is good for both physical and mental wellbeing. His rallying cry that “singing should be on prescription” is at the heart of all he does. He also actively promotes inter-generational singing and other activities which he believes has considerable benefits for both young and old participants.
Grenville lives in the City of Bath with his partner Jacky. He has two remaining sons, Daniel and Laurie, after his middle son Kieron tragically passed away from bowel cancer in 2023 (just 2 days before his 47th birthday). As Kieron’s legacy, Grenville organised and funded a concert in Bath Abbey in November, raising £7,400 for a Cancer family support charity. He is also a proud Grandad of 6 grandchildren.
Early Career
Singing was always part of a Methodist home upbringing in Purton near Swindon. Grenville used to have a tenor voice but says that many years of choir conducting have strained his voice now to a low bass.
For a number of years in the 80s Grenville sang in a barbershop group called Five-in-a-Bar, making records and appearing on many national radio and TV shows including The Cliff Richard Show and Blue Peter …. but he’s lost the badge! Many of the arrangements sung by the quintet were his.
Grenville's background includes a number of years managing newspapers as well as a period working as a freelance for the BBC in Bristol. He built up his own successful PR and Marketing company in the 80s and 90s and also a magazine company publishing golf titles. A bad back ended the chances of him winning the Open!
Career highlights / achievements
Some of the many, many highlights and achievements of Grenville’s career are:
Some of the many, many highlights and achievements of Grenville’s career are:
- Being presented to Queen Elizabeth II at a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace (at the invitation of the National Lottery) and meeting Queen Camilla, when she was the Duchess of Cornwall, at Bath Abbey
- Receiving an honorary degree from Bath Spa University in recognition of his contribution to music in the community in 2012
- Publishing his novel “Deep Harmony” in 2015. Read about the loves and lives of Cornish choir The Verlis Singers available from www.amazonbooks.co.uk
- Being invited to attend the National Service of Thanksgiving to mark the Centenary of the Armistice – First World War – in Westminster Abbey on November 11th 2018
- Taking “Everyone can Sing” workshops around the UK and across the world whenever time permits
- Working with the BBC on the Heritage of World War I songs and presenting a programme for BBC Radio based on the life of the songwriter Fred Weatherly (“O Danny Boy” and “Roses of Picardy”
- Appearing on TV and Radio across the world including as one of the 100 judges on BBC1 talent show “All Together Now”
- Working with a number of leading celebrities and soloists including Katherine Jenkins, Hayley Westenra, Aled Jones, Jamie Cullum, Lee Mead, Alfie Boe, Rhydian Roberts and Russell Watson
- Taking part in numerous radio and TV interviews usually discussing the benefits of singing
- Receiving the Prime Minister's Points of Light Award in 2023 on behalf of the Goldies Charity as the daily award winner and the UK's 2217th recipient
Grenville was under the spotlight in a YouTube interview by Spanish resident and former Bath Male Choir member Jamie Brewster for his series of interviews "Jamie Brewster’s Musical Heroes" - you can hear the interview below...