Sir Adrian Boult

Musician

In the north choir aisle of Westminster Abbey is a small memorial stone to conductor Sir Adrian Boult C.H. This was unveiled on 8th April 1984 by Miss Hester Dickson. The inscription reads:

1889 Adrian Cedric Boult CH Conductor 1983

He was born in Chester on 8th April 1889, son of Cedric and his wife Katherine (Barman). He was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford and showed early promise as a musician. He then studied in Germany and made his debut as a conductor in 1914. Unfit for military service he worked at the War Office during the First World War.

He conducted the first performance of Holst's suite The Planets and was conductor of the City of Birmingham orchestra, the Bach Choir and the BBC Symphony orchestra. At the 1937 and 1953 coronations he was conductor of the music, being knighted in 1937.

He married Ann Wilson (nee Bowles). In 1969 he was made a Companion of Honour and died on 22nd February 1983, leaving his body to medical science.