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The Findon Valley Residents' Association is a charity registered in England and Wales: 267009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did you know?

Some interesting stories behind people and places in Findon Valley.

If you have any other interesting articles to include please email them (either as a PDF or Microsoft Word attachment) to site@findonvalley.org

Charles Williams, Composer, 1893 - 1978

Information sourced from Wikipedia

Findon Valley resident Charles Williams was a British composer and conductor, contributing music to over 50 films. While his career ran from 1934 through 1968, much of his work came to the big screen as stock music and was therefore unaccredited for his work.

Charles Williams originally played as a freelance violinist in theatres, cinemas and symphony orchestras. He studied composition with Norman O'Neill, a fellow composer, at the Royal Academy of Music in London. In 1933, he went to Gaumont British Films as composer and stayed there until 1939. He composed for many British films and radio shows.

After the end of World War II, he became the conductor of the new Queen's Hall Light Orchestra. Later, he formed his own Concert Orchestra. He composed many orchestral pieces and marches, which were recorded in the "Mood Music" category of Light Music.

Charles wrote the signature tunes of the radio programme The Voice of London and also Devil's Gallop, the familiar theme tune to the radio serial, Dick Barton. He also composed the popular piano concerto pastiche, The Dream of Olwen, for the film While I Live. His composition The Young Ballerina accompanied probably the most famous of the BBC's 1950s so-called interludes, namely The Potter's Wheel.

An abridged version of his Majestic Fanfare (1935) was used by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation for many years as the signature tune for its radio and television news broadcasts. A version as re-orchestrated by Richard Mills (Australian conductor and composer) in 1988 is still being used for radio news broadcasts.

An adaptation of his High Adventure is the signature tune of the current Friday Night is Music Night programme on BBC Radio 2.

 

The Worthing Typhoid Epidemic of 1893

Researched and written by Malcolm Linfield, published online at www.longweb.f9.co.uk

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The Battle of Cissbury in 1933

Researched and written by Valerie Martin, published online at www.findonvillage.com

Click here* to read how Findon Valley came about.

 

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