Francis Hider
Viola
This biography starts with Francis’ father, Frank. He used to ride a penny farthing bicycle, which he exchanged one day for a double bass which caught his eye in a shop window. He later became a professional bass player, playing with the Royal Opera Orchestra, Covent Garden and the Queen's Hall Orchestra under the illustrious baton of Henry Wood (later Sir Henry Wood of promenade concert fame!).

During rehearsals Frank had noticed string players using raw rosin on their bows which was both awkward to use and messy ... and so the "Hidersine Rosin Company" was born. Unfortunately during the 1930s depression the company had to be sold to pay off debts - Francis was born into a poor family.

Francis' mother, a cellist, was many years younger than Frank and tried to make ends meet by giving Cello lessons. She came from a family of chamber music enthusiasts and desperately wanted her son to follow in her husband's footsteps but they could not afford to pay for lessons. At the age of 8, at Junior school, Francis' violin lesson began only to come to an end 5 months later as World War II had begun.

Frank died when Francis was 11 but Francis continued to play, mainly simple duets with his mother, later joining in more advanced chamber music when friends came round.

One of these friends suggested that Francis join the YMCA Orchestra, adding that they needed new Viola players. So, with virtually no proper tuition Francis joined the orchestra at the back of the Viola section. He made good progress with the viola but recognised that his technique left a lot to be desired so started to have lessons. He then joined another orchestra, Hornchurch Symphony, and in the late 1960s he joined Hornchurch Concert Orchestra, this time as a violinist, making the inevitable change to viola a few years later.

Since then he has seen the name change to Havering Concert Orchestra and four conductors come and go. He has also been our treasurer for the last 21 years. Whilst still playing in orchestras Francis still makes time for his "first-love" chamber music, most regularly with Donna, Jo and Ruth from the Orchestra as the Hedingham String Quartet.