DAVIES, H. WALFORD  

Although born just over the border in Shropshire, like his near contemporary Edward German, Sir Henry Walford Davies came from Welsh stock. On leaving St George’s Chapel, Windsor, he studied at the Royal College of Music with Parry and Stanford. A life in London as organist and conductor followed, primarily at the Temple Church. In 1917 he was appointed Director of Music to the Royal Air Force for whom the RAF March Past was written. His other instrumental success, Solemn Melody, (originally for organ aiud strings) dates from 1908, and although he wrote regularly throughout the rest of his life, his works never gained a permanent place in the repertory. He was knighted in 1922 and on the death of Elgar in 1934 was appointed Master of the King’s Musick. By then he was a familiar voice on the BBC as a populariser of music, particularly to schools, in which area he was a true pioneer.