Malcolm Sargent and the Rutland Musical Festival
Malcolm Sargent and the Rutland Musical Festival: A Picture with a Story. This superb photograph comes with a wonderful story. One hundred years ago Leicester Symphony Orchestra’s founder Dr Malcolm Sargent was at the centre of music making in Melton Mowbray, Stamford, Leicester…….and Rutland.

The picture is provided by Mrs Julie Coles of Stamford and was discovered amongst her Great Aunt May’s belongings after she passed away. None of the family knew anything about it as it had never been mentioned when May was alive.
The photograph is set in a very elaborate and expensive mount and is clearly something to be treasured. How such a valuable item came into the possession of Auntie May is not known. For many years she was a lady’s maid and companion to Sylvia Brocklebank of Wing Grange near Uppingham who we know, was very active in the Rutland Musical Festival. It seems likely that the photograph was given to May as a ‘thank you’ either for work helping with the festival or for good service generally.
Though undoubtedly rare, Mrs Coles recently found a second copy of the photography for sale in Oakham. A faded pencil note on the surround revealed its date as 20 April 1922. This was the first year Sargent conducted the festival which he continued to do to huge acclaim until well into the 1930s.
Sam Dobson
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