Extract from Hesped delivered by Rabbi Geoffrey Shisler at the funeral of Arnold Chazen

Arnold Chazen was born in Wallasey, Liverpool in 1931, the eldest of 6 children.
 
As a youngster he was very keen on sports and remained a strong Liverpool supporter and football lover throughout his life. Indeed, just the week before he died, even though he was in hospital, he made sure he didn't miss watching the European Cup Final on the television.

Arnold attended King George V School in Southport and sang in the choir at Princes Park Road Synagogue, Liverpool, and in 1951 he won a scholarship to the London Guildhall School of Music to study singing. He also became a good violinist.

Arnold was a very cultured man. He loved opera, classical music, ballet, operetta, the theatre and also spoke a number of foreign languages, some of them fluently.

In 1962 he married Freda and went on a two year "honeymoon" to South Africa where he played in "My Fair Lady" for two years

Arnold loved travelling. Indeed, it was only a week before he went into hospital for the last time that he returned from a trip to Amsterdam

He sang in the chorus at the Royal Opera House, and La Scala Milan with some of the most famous singers of the day including Pavarotti, and also at the London Palladium with Shirley Bassey.

In the Jewish world he was the first choirmaster of Wembley United Synagogue and subsequently Choirmaster at Marble Arch shul for many years.

 He came to the New West End twelve years ago, first as a chorister, before he was appointed Shamash.

Arnold was a very modest person and was very popular. He had very many visitors in the hospital and he received an astonishing number of cards and letters. Indeed, I think he would have been astonished at the very large number of people who've gathered here today to bid him farewell.

He was an excellent organiser, especially at weddings, where he liked everything to be timed just so.

He learned to conduct services, which he thoroughly enjoyed doing, but knew his limitations. When he wasn't sure of the correct melody, he'd decline the invitation to officiate on that occasion.

Arnold had an excellent sense of humour, which he retained right to the very end, and he was very good company. He was also a most accomplished host, and I can well remember a wonderful dinner he made for Anne and me soon after we came to the New West End. The presentation and the food were as good as at any leading hotel (even if it was vegetarian!).

Arnold was a man of great humility and never liked to trouble anyone, and I think this is nowhere better illustrated than in the fact that he didn't even tell his children how ill he was until about six week before he died, as he didn't want to burden them with his problems.

I, and many people at the New West End, as well as further afield, will miss Arnold very much indeed. We shall remember him for his gentleness, his warmth and his genuine kindness, and I consider myself very fortunate to have worked with him for the past eighteen months.

King Solomon tells us, Tov Shem Tov Mishemen Tov, 'A good name is better than riches.'

Arnold Chazen leaves this world with the finest name that anyone could achieve. He was a good Jew, a good father, a good brother and a good friend.

Arnold is survived by his daughters, Lynette and Debbie, his brothers Melvyn and Ivor, and his sisters Nellie and Sylvia, to whom we send our deepest condolences

May his soul be bound up in the bond of eternal life, and may he rest in peace. Amen.