Stories of our work
Roy Douglas

We give essential support to many retired musicians. Roy Douglas, a highly distinguished composer and arranger, has been benefiting from the Fund’s support for many years.

Roy approached the Fund when his income from royalties began to dwindle. Help with living costs has meant that he can live an independent life, with the help of two carers.

Roy started to play the piano when he was 5 but due to heart trouble he had very little formal education as a child and never had any lessons in composition, orchestration or conducting. However, from the age of 8, when well enough, he spent many hours playing the piano and started to play regular concerts and composed little piano pieces.

He went on to enjoy a prolific career. From 1933 he was a member of the London Symphony Orchestra as pianist, organist, celesta player, fourth percussionist and librarian. From 1944 to 1958 Roy was musical assistant to Ralph Vaughan Williams, helping him to prepare works for performance and publication, including his last four symphonies and the opera ‘The Pilgrim’s Progress.’ Roy wrote about this in his book ‘Working With RVW.’

“ The Fund has helped me to live a peaceful and contented life. It takes all the worries off my mind with regards to expenses. My income from royalties would not keep me going.”

For thirty years, from 1942, he performed a similar service for William Walton. He also worked closely with Arthur Benjamin, Anthony Collins, Walter Goehr, John Ireland, Alan Rawsthorne and arranged orchestral accompaniments for such well-known singers as Peter Dawson, Paul Robeson, Elisabeth Schumann and Richard Tauber.

Recently, Roy was able to enjoy a performance from Solly Hardwick, a past recipient of a Young Talent Award. Take a look at the video at the top of the page.

Help other musicians, such as Roy, to live a peaceful and contented life.
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