EDWARD Elgar's first experience of the might of music came from listening and watching his father play the organ at one Roman Catholic church, St George's in Worcester.

The present church was opened on July 16, 1829, when admission to the service was charged for, from 2s.6d to 10s, in the way of a cinema today.

Sermons could last up to three hours, plenty of time for Elgar to turn his mind to composing small works for the local wind quintet in which he played with his life long friend Hubert Leicester, and indeed time for his father to nip out for a snifter!

There had been just sufficient time at the end of the service for the energetic boy to run to the Cathedral to hear the end of the organ voluntary, the music more important than the Anglican dogma.

In later life, on Alice's death, his thoughts moved toward another Catholic church, St Wulstan's at Little Malvern. Dark and austere on the outside, light inside. A few days after her death, Elgar wrote: "We can see the little grave in the distance and nothing could be sweeter and lovelier, only the birds singing and all remote peace brought closely to us. The place she chose long ago is too sweet, the blossoms are white all around, and the illimitable plain, with all the hills and churches in the distance, which were hers from childhood, looks just the same - inscrutable and unchanging."

The spot, long chosen, with the wonderful view of the countryside that meant so much as an inspiration for his music, remains as a poignant reminder of the man.

But Nature is ruthless and will reclaim for her own any countryside where mankind turns his back, even for a moment.

The preservation of the site of the graves of Alice, Edward and eventually Carice, has been the labour of love for many years for those whose feel for his music meant a determination that he should not be forgotten in death.

The task, although not thought of as such, currently falls to Geoff and Gill Bradshaw, who ensure that the graves of Edward, Alice and Carice, who sadly died childless, are dressed to suit the season - a Christmas wreath, Easter and spring yellow and white, summer bedding, bright and bold, giving way to brave winter pansies and heathers.

But they labour that Elgar, as visitors have often said "looks as if he is loved, in this peaceful spot".

Others have left tributes bunches of wild flowers, the occasional red rose and large bouquets.

Gill has kept the cards left with the flowers, with messages such as: "In humility, gratitude and awe - Bristol Choral Society. May 1, 2004." Patricia Routledge always leaves flowers and once there was a white Zimbabwean farmer, forced to leave his homeland, unable to listen to European music there, standing in silent tribute.

So many notes are left, it might be Elgar's post box. Perhaps he has achieved his aim of being so famous that a letter would find him, addressed only to Edward Elgar, England'. Death has not diminished his power to engender devotion to his memory.

By Susan J Dolman