Miss Nyren continues: 'He was himself a temperate man, though he wrote the music for this convivial song and a panegyric on "good strong ale". He was quite as enthusiastic about music as cricket, and in his old age much enjoyed reading over the score of Novello's masses and other music, saying he could imagine he heard the sound of each instrument.
'For thirteen years he was honorary conductor or choir master of the choir of St. Mary's, Moorfields, where Novello was organist, and five years after his death the choir sang, on June 26, 1 842, in memory of him his own "Ave Verum", with chorus. Vincent Novello was at the organ, and Miss Dolby and Miss Lucumbe and Gamballi were the solo singers.
'He was an exceptionally strong man, as the following anecdote will prove. My father well remembered going with his father to see some great boxing contest, where there was a great crowd, and John Nyren senior felt a hand in his coat pocket; he quickly caught it by the wrist and firmly held it, lifting the culprit, a boy, up by it for the crowd to see, and then let him go, thinking him sufficiently punished.
'In one of my grandfather's visits to Belgium an archery fête was in progress. He had never handled a bow, but on being asked to try his skill, did so, and his correct eye and steady hand enabled him to place the arrow exactly in the centre of the bull's-eye. He was asked to shoot again; but he courteously declined, simply saying: "I have shown you what I can do."' Simply; but shrewdly too, I guess.
'John Nyren was never a good man of business, being too kind in helping others to enrich himself. He was a calico printer on a large scale, but his premises were burnt down, and he lost a great deal of property. He and his wife were always ready to help those in trouble of any kind, and those who had the privilege of knowing them have told me how all their friends, and even acquaintances, when in sorrow or any difficulty, always went to consult "old Mr. and Mrs. Nyren",
