George Anthony Thomas Weldon (1908-1963) was born on 5 June 1908 at Chichester in West Sussex, the second child and only son of Major Francis Harry Weldon (1869-1920) and Eveleen Weldon (née Campbell) (1868-1955). He had an elder sister, Sybil May Weldon (1906-1989).
George attended Winchester House Preparatory School at Eastbourne, East Sussex, and in May 1922 joined Sherborne School (School House) where he remained until July 1926. According to an article in the school magazine, George was prevented by lameness (his lower leg was withered from birth) from taking part in athletic activities, but that this enabled him to devote himself to his musical studies and to perform as soloist and accompanist in the Musical Society Concerts. He was also a member in 1923 of the winning School House Shout team and in 1924 in the Glee team. In 1925 he won the Halliday Cup for Music.
On leaving Sherborne in July 1926, George went to the Royal College of Music where he studied conducting under Malcolm Sargent and Aylmer Buesst. He was appointed as assistant to Julius Harrison, conductor of the Hastings Municipal Orchestra, but this ended in 1939 with the outbreak of war. In 1940 George began touring the country with the London Symphony Orchestra. Then came the chance to conduct the R.C.M. Orchestra (previously under the guidance of Malcolm Sargent) and to direct a season of the International Ballet, along with engagements with the London Philharmonic and National Symphony Orchestras. In 1941, he went on an opera tour in the Provinces, and in 1942 conducted the L.S.O. for the Russian Ballet at the Cambridge Theatre, London, and during an extensive tour.
In 1943, George succeeded Leslie Heward as conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO), a post he held until 1950. The orchestra continued to play throughout the war and George undertook his share of night fire-watch duties on the roof of the Town Hall. In 1945 he visited the continent, conducting in Brussels, Berlin, Hamburg and Dusseldorf, as well as at Albert Hall concerts with, amongst others, Yehudi Menuhin and Huberman. In 1946, he conducted for Sir Adrian Boult who was on tour in America.
After resigning his post at the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, George served from 1952 to 1963 as associate conductor to Sir John Barbirolli at the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester, and in 1955 and 1956 he was also conductor of the Sadler’s Wells Ballet.
George Weldon died unexpectedly on 17 August 1963 at the West County Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa. where he was conducting a series of concerts with the Cape Town Municipal Orchestra. His ashes were scattered in the garden of his home at 37 St John’s Wood Road, London. Probate of his estate was granted on 30 December 1963 to Richard Burr Talbot Keen, solicitor, and Whimbrel Esther Burdett-Coutts, spinster. His estate was valued at £33,922 11s 7d.
In 1946, George told the school magazine that his favourite recreation was driving fast cars!
Rachel Hassall
School Archivist
See also:
- A discourse by George Weldon on musicians, their aims and problems, and the public, The Shirburnian, Michaelmas 1951 & Lent 1952 (pdf)
- George Weldon by Beresford King-Smith, OS Record, 2006 (pdf)
- George Anthony Thomas Weldon, DNB entry
- George Weldon (Conductor), Bach Cantatas website
- George Weldon, Naxos Classical Music
For further information about the Sherborne School Archives please contact the School Archivist
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