| Date | April 2004 |
|---|---|
| Type | Blue Plaque |
| Subject | Person |
| Plaque | RBWM |
| Location | High Meadows, Church Road, Cookham Dean, SL6 9PJ — View on Google Maps |
| Status | Current |
| Reference | PQ-0027 |
| Volume | Blue Plaques |
| Collection | Plaques |
Summary
| Name: | Sir Henry Walford Davies |
| Born: | 6 Sep 1869 |
| Place: | Oswestry |
| Died: | 11 Mar 1941 |
| Profession: | Composer |
| Educated: | St. George’s Chapel then the Royal College of Music |
| Famous for: | He was an English composer, organist, teacher, and broadcaster who played a significant role in British musical life in the early 20th century. Born in Oswestry, Shropshire, he was a chorister at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, and later studied at the Royal College of Music under Hubert Parry and Charles Villiers Stanford. Davies became well known for his Anglican church music and for popularising classical music through radio broadcasts with the BBC. In 1934 he succeeded Edward Elgar as Master of the King’s Music, serving under George V. His work helped bring music appreciation to a wider public audience. He held the position of Master of the King’s Musick from 1934 to 1941. During World War One he joined the Committee for Music in War Time and established the RAF bands, composing the RAF March Past. At the committal service for HM Queen Elizabeth II, Psalm 21 was sung as The Queen’s Coffin was borne through the Chapel, set to his music. |
| Windlesora: |
Images
Left: Sir Walford and Lady Davies at Windsor Castle; by TrevelyanLittle on Wikimedia CC BY-SA 4.0. Right: By Bassano Ltd, 26 Jun 1929; NPG x124636, BY-NC-ND 3.0.
Curator's References
Commemorative plaques on the RBWM website.