Talk:George Weldon

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The information below was in part given to me by Mr. Robert Hardcastle of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra, contact: http://www.rtwso.org/contact.html See page 13 reports about Weldon being conductor of the Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra in 1942: http://www.rtwcs.org.uk/archive/90plus.pdf

I have since found more information on George’s passion for fast cars and racing on this Internet site: http://www.georgeweldon.co.uk/files/WELDON%201%20hegp%20edit.pdf

My mother, the late Muriel, The Lady Dowding, being lighter in weight than my father, used to sometimes be passenger when George was racing his Frazer Nash at Brooklands. References to George Weldon, the best man at my parent’s wedding, see my Mother’s autobiography: BEAUTY – NOT THE BEAST, ISBN 0 85978 056 2 pages 56-58. http://www.speakingtree.co.uk/bookpages/27088.htm

David Whiting, Fréjus, November 2008. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Max Whiting (talk • contribs) 11:16, 27 November 2008 (UTC)

This text has been removed from the main page as it violates WP:Verifiability. If this material can be backed up with references to published sources, please feel free to reinsert.


 * George Weldon (my godfather) was born in Chester in 1906. In 1930 he was chosen as permanent conductor with the Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra. Under his direction the orchestra grew in stature, in musicianship and in reputation. George Weldon had hoped to establish a symphony orchestra for the RAF, but much to his disappointment he was declared unfit for military service on account of a slight lameness. The RAF's loss was certainly the town's gain for he threw himself into local music-making with even more zeal than before. He was able to attract many professional musicians as they came to, or passed through the area. George Weldon conducted many memorable concerts until he left the TWSO in 1943 to succeed Leslie Heward as conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, at the age of 37. In 1951 he moved from there to Manchester to become Sir John Barbirolli's deputy, and in 1955-6 he conducted the Sadlers Wells Ballet. His musicianship was excellent, and he was very popular and a very likeable man, with a passion for English music. As a conductor, Weldon had an absolute clear beat; he was concerned with orchestral balance and he got to the heart of every composer that he represented. He was unpretentious and the orchestras liked him. George travelled the world conducting and was well received everywhere. He was involved in the Anglo-Turkish concerts and in 1954 in the presence of royalty took part for the 50th anniversary celebrations of the London Symphony Orchestra. The conductor Bryden Thomson, is quoted as saying about George Weldon, "That man was a prince among conductors." Despite his many commitments he continued to appear as guest conductor in Tunbridge Wells. One of his last concerts in Tunbridge Wells was in December 1960. George Weldon died in 1963 of natural causes while on a tour with the Hallé Orchestra in South Africa. The heavy smoking coupled with his asthma weakened him. His doctor had advised him not to go on this tour which included trips to Greece and Turkey. It was said that a South African winter would affect George's asthma.

Grover cleveland 20:43, 24 May 2006 (UTC)

Removed text
I removed this text as unreferenced.
 * He had a passion for English music at a time when this was still considered somewhat unfashionable and when the standard repertoire of Haydn to Brahms was preferred. 

Grover cleveland (talk) 15:46, 24 December 2007 (UTC)

As referenced, the words removed come from Chislett's biographical sketch. Chislett was an established and prolific writer and critic active during Weldon's life. Cg2p0B0u8m (talk) 10:28, 21 September 2008 (UTC)


 * It can be included, if attributed to the critic with a citation. Btw, has there ever been a time in the twentieth century when English music as a whole "was considered unfashionable" in England?  Grover cleveland (talk) 23:41, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

Apologies, I was referring to the words "A modest and unassuming man" which you removed; the phrase I think I lifted wholesale from the Chislett thing. I agree with your last comment - I can only assume that whoever put in the other sentence meant Birmingham; at that time there was lots of English music being played in London and Bournemouth and probably elsewhere. Cg2p0B0u8m (talk) 09:58, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

The following appears in the Courier of 20th March 1942: MUSICAL SENSATION CHORAL SOCIETY MERGES WITH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Another Choir Being Formed. Quite a sensation has been caused in musical circles in Tunbridge Wells by the official announcement that the T.W.C.S. is continuing its rehearsals as before, at 7.30 on Monday evenings in the School Hall of the Baptist Tabernacle, Upper Grosvenor Road, and that Mr. George Weldon, conductor of the Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra, is undertaking the direction of the Choral Society. The works to be given next season will be Handel's Messiah and Coleridge Taylor's Hiawatha. At the same time comes the announcement from the Tunbridge Weils Symphony Orchestra that they will be giving combined orchestral concerts next season with the Choral Society in addition to six orchestral concerts. All will be conducted by Mr. George Weldon.

In spite of its being wartime the Choral Society was very active in 1943 and Hiawatha in September attracted almost a full house at the Assembly Hall, the conductor being George Weldon. It was at this time that Mr Weldon was appointed conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra ......

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