John Thornley
Concert Manager, Acting Publicity, Acting Secretary, Website, and Trustee
John has been concert manager since 1982, taking over from John Evans, a founding member of the Orchestra and second master of Eastbourne College.
John went to Southwell Minster Grammar School in Nottingham where he gained a choral scholarship for the Southwell Minster choir. After taking a degree in modern languages at the University of Sheffield, he spent a year at Goldsmiths University of London where he studied for a PGCE. He was appointed as an MFL teacher at Eastbourne College in 1978 where he has remained.
He now has an administrative role and also works on events for former pupils and other College friends. During his lengthy involvement with the ESO, John has moved several thousand chairs and has become an expert at making tea and providing posh biscuits to sustain players in the break in rehearsals.