[1] He was a chorister and then assistant organist at Lichfield Cathedral.
[1] He was also Music Master at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn.
[5] In 1937 he succeeded Harold Dawber as Chorus Master of the Hallé Choir.
[6] He married Mabel Daisy Root (1880–1962) who was a pianist and piano teacher.
They had three children including Molly Brearley who led Froebel Educational Institute from 1955 to 1970.