The life and elusive character of Troyte Griffith, depicted as the seventh of Elgar's Enigma Variations, was elaborated on by Dr Jim Berrow, with Iain Young quoting the words of Troyte.
Born in 1864, Troyte came to work in Malvern as an architect, in offices above Abbey Gateway in the mid-1890s, which is when Elgar met him.
Troyte was a watercolour artist, as well as an architect and architectural historian. He designed All Saints' Church, The Wyche, along with a number of local houses and the toposcope on the Beacon.
Politics and music interested him too and he was secretary for Malvern Concert Club when Elgar founded it in 1903.
Troyte was a familiar figure as he rode his upright bicycle around Malvern. He never married and was rather solitary. His friendship with Elgar was based on complete trust and constancy.
In 1937, Troyte sent Carice all the letters Elgar had written to him. In many they shared jokes and the depth of their friendship was evident. Troyte died in 1942.
Dr Berrow's talk was the final event in a pleasurable and successful festival.
Jill Hopkins
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