My first post here as a member having been viewing for a year or two. With all the tributes to Allan Wicks here I feel moved to add my own from a different and privileged perspective.
First of all though I am not an organist, (although I did play it in my later school years) but I am an avid enthusiast of the organ and its music, inspired I am sure by Allan Wicks during my time as a choirboy at Canterbury Cathedral from 1959-64. (Allan came in 1961).
Even as young choristers we were aware of his enthusiasm for "modern" music and French in particular especially Messiaen. As others have mentioned, his enthusiasm and sense of humour were just some of his virtues.
I was a bit of a late developer and he was patient with me. Indeed on one occasion during the rehearsal of a particularly difficult piece with an awkward interval that most were getting wrong, he stopped and looked at me and asked me to sing the note! I hadn't a clue, but thought "initiative test here- sing something!" So I did- which must have been right because he said "well done Gibbo" (my nickname), and thrust his hand in his pocket and gave me threepence! I wish that I had kept it now, but I went out and bought some sweets.
So, at the weekend I excavated the music and record chest and put onto my 1970's system (Pioneer PL12D- Lynsley-Hood 75 Amp - Kef Concertos) Transports de Joie from the Organ Showpieces album. Need I say more...