The Upminster & District Philharmonic Society was the
forerunner of the Havering Concert Orchestra. Formed in 1936, it consisted of
both an orchestra and operatic chorus.
After the war, the group restarted but as a string only orchestra
rehearsing at the Drury
Falls School. In 1954 Eric Coles was appointed conductor. He had just left the BBC Concert
Orchestra and was approached by Mr Cyril Cooke, then principal of the
Hornchurch Evening Institute, with the object of forming an adult
amateur orchestra. Wind instruments were added and the Hornchurch Orchestra was born.
In 1965, when Hornchurch was absorbed into Havering
Borough Council, the orchestra was again re-named with some of the original UPA
members still playing an active part.
Well known local artists such as Adrian Shepherd, Beryl Jones, Leonara
Fane, Alfred Kendal and the internationally famous violinist Ralph Holmes all
played with the orchestra during these years. Below is the earliest programme from our archives dating
back to 1937 and featuring the Upminster Philharmonic Society’s presentation of
Gilbert and Sullivan’s Mikado.
It was a three
night run with tickets ranging
from 1/6 to 3/6 and programmes at 3d each. The production took place at the Commemoration Hall
Upminster (I believe
this is now part of the current Trinity
Church). The
musical director was Fred Southgate, the Mikado of Japan was
played by Herbert Parrish and Nanki-Poo his son by
Basil Tucker. Patrons were asked to
“kindly refrain from smoking during The First Act”.
How times have changed
A Look Back through the History of the HCO – Part 2
The next entry in the Archive File takes us
on to 1962 when the May concert was reviewed in the Hornchurch Recorder. In a glowing piece, Peter Halstead
enthused: “What exactly Mr Eric Coles
has been doing with the Hornchurch Orchestra since their last concert, I’m not
allowed to know. But one thing is
certain: their strings beat any local competition
and family virtues see them soundly through formidable pages of music when
orchestras with more isolated talent would be left sadly limping….”
For a programme costing sixpence, the audience were
treated to Mozart’s Piano Concerto where soloist Beryl Jones was described as a
“bringing the piece’s dark colouring into gravely beautiful relief”, as well as
Schubert’s 3rd Symphony and works by Mendelssohn and Beethoven.
The list of players in the programme includes a
fledgling clarinet player by the name of Brian Luck, husband of our flautist
Joan……
A Look Back through the History of the HCO - Part 3
Throughout the 60s the orchestra
continued to flourish the under the stewardship of Eric Coles. Known as the Hornchurch Orchestra,
performances were held at a variety of venues including Drury Falls School
(where Havering Sixth Form college now stands), Romford County Technical School
(was in Havering Drive), Hornchurch Grammar (now Emerson Park School) and
Gaynes School in Upminster.
During the Concert of May 1964, our ever versatile
Chairman Joan Luck played three piano solos:-
To the Spring, Clair de Lune and Andaluza. At the same concert, The Wanstead Trumpets
performed a quartet of well-known operatic arrangements. In May 1965 the Orchestra performed with the
Havering Singers, who still meet today.
The programme included Hail Bright Abode from Wagner’s Tannhauser
and Mozart’s Ave Verum.
By 1965 the Orchestra had changed its name to the
Havering Concert Orchestra. In November
1968 the Orchestra performed the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with a young
soloist by the name Keith Gurry who had just graduated from the Royal Academy
of Music to join the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Keith is still an active player in the area
and today leads the nearby Woodford Symphony
Throughout the Sixties the entrance programme cost
sixpence. By the advent of the 1970’s
the cost had increased to 30p!
A Look Back through the History of
the HCO – Part 4
By the
start of the 70s the orchestra were now performing at Abbs
Cross Technical
High School as well as Drury Falls
School. Every concert was preceded by the National
Anthem.
In 1972, having been conductor since 1954, Eric
Coles decided to retire from conducting the orchestra, in order to pursue his love of
chamber music. At his final concert, the
orchestra performed the Beethoven’s ‘Emperor’ piano concerto, Mozart’s Symphony
No 40 and the Overture to Hansel and Gretel by Humperdinck.
The conductor’s baton was now taken over by Robin
Stone. A colourful character, Robin was a professor and examiner of piano at
the London College of Music. As well as
teaching, he composed several works, including a clarinet concerto, two piano
quartets and a violin concerto at the age of 19. This latter work was performed by the
orchestra in March 1974 with local soloist Glyn Davis. At the same concert, the orchestra also
premiered a Concertino for two guitars and small orchestra by Professor Ian
Parrott.
Brian Luck, a former clarinettist with the
HCO, recalls one of the strangest
rehearsals he ever took part in at Robin’s house in Gidea Park. Brian recalls “There wasn’t enough room to
fit us in as there were 30 or 40 players….. so he decided to hold the rehearsal
in his garden. We attached our music
sheets to the bushes with clothes pegs!
It caused a lot of amusement with the neighbours……”
By
the end of the 1970’s, Robin Stone had moved on to be replaced by Robert
Ferguson, ushering in a golden era for the HCO .