On Sunday 16 November, a special service will take place at St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Bury St Edmunds, to honour those who have significantly enriched the life of the Cathedral, the Diocese and the wider community in Suffolk.

On the Feast of St Edmund, St Edmundsbury Cathedral recognises those who have demonstrated ‘exemplary and unusual service to the Cathedral’ by bestowing lay and honourary canon titles, plus the prestigious Order of St Edmund – the highest honour the Cathedral gives.

This year, broadcaster Zeb Soanes will be made a Lay Canon. Zeb is the presenter of Relaxing Evenings on Classic FM, the UK’s most popular classical music station. His nightly show from 7.00 pm – 10.00 pm regularly attracts 1.3 million listeners each week. For over 20 years Zeb was an authoritative newsreader and reassuring voice of the Shipping Forecast to millions of listeners on BBC Radio 4. He announced some of the biggest events in recent years from the final result of the Brexit referendum and the election of Donald Trump to the unfolding of the Coronavirus pandemic. He has also appeared across BBC television where he has presented for BBC Proms, the Culture Show, and Songs of Praise.

Zeb was born and raised in Lowestoft, Suffolk and is also an author, actor and an active patron of charities Young Sounds UK, English Symphony Orchestra Youth and the British Association of Performing Arts Medicine.

Recently, Zeb brought Betjeman’s Banana Blush to St Edmundsbury Cathedral. A special Golden Anniversary performance of Sir John Betjeman’s much-loved verse, set to the music of Jim Parker played by the Chris Warner Ensemble. Zeb’s enchanting delivery perfectly captured the many characters and moods of Betjeman’s poems, transporting the audience from 1920’s cocktail party to village bandstand in an hour of toe-tapping delight — telling the story of this unique musical collaboration along the way.

Of his appointment as Lay Canon, Zeb said, “From the moment I first set foot in St Edmundsbury Cathedral I felt welcome. The building radiates an embrace to all — even to its four-footed worshippers I noted from a jar of dog biscuits by the door. I look forward to helping extend that warm welcome throughout and beyond the county.”

The Bishop bestows the title of ‘Canon’, given to individuals, both clergy and lay, who have given particular service to the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich. The new canons will join the Cathedral’s College of Canons. The role of the College of Canons is to act independently to the Cathedral governing bodies and be a forum for reflection, advice and advocacy across the diocese and county. Modelling both the current context and what we aspire to become, the canons represent the breadth of Suffolk life.

The Very Reverend Joe Hawes, Dean of St Edmundsbury, says, “To have Zeb join our College of Canons is an honour and we look forward to his ongoing contribution to Cathedral life.”

Zeb will be installed alongside the yet-to-be announced Honorary Canon and Order of St Edmund recipient at a special Evensong service at 3.30 pm on Sunday 16 November.