The Royal Society of Musicians’ flower-laying ceremony took place this morning in memory of Sir Henry Wood, CH (1869 – 1944), the celebrated conductor and founder of the Promenade Concerts, who was also a generous benefactor of the Society through the years.
Wood’s memorial is in The Musicians’ Memorial Chapel in the Holy Sepulchre, Holborn Viaduct, where the Regimental Chapel of the Royal Fusiliers can also be found.
In 1953, Jessie Wood, Sir Henry’s companion in later life, wrote to RSM asking that flowers be placed annually, on the anniversary of Sir Henry’s death, above the resting place of his ashes in the Musicians’ Memorial Chapel. She added that ‘the more simple the tribute, the more in keeping it would be.’
The Society and Holy Sepulchre are honoured to fulfil Jessie’s request and to continue a tradition revived last year.
A welcome to the gathering of musicians and notable names from the classical sector was given by the Reverend Mr Edward McMillan, Assistant Curate at Chelsea Old Church. This was followed by an introduction by Charlotte Penton-Smith, Chief Executive of the Society, and an extract from Sir Hugh Allen’s autobiography of Henry Wood, ‘My Life of Music’ (1938), which was read movingly by James Hobson, Head of Development at the RSM.
The laying of flowers was completed by Carl Jackson, MVO, Joint Vice-Chair of Governors, RSM, with prayers and blessing given by the Reverend closing the ceremony.
