Woodbridge Orchestral Society
Site updated on 19 February 2018
Associates & Musical Directors
The orchestra's Presidents:
Dr Preston 1910 – 11
Mrs Capel-
Mr Roger Quilter 1932 -
Honourable Lady Gwynnedd Quilter 1954 -
Dr Imogen Holst 1961 -
Mr James Butt 1985
Mr Bernard Barrell 1986 -
Mr David Lloyd 2005 -
The orchestra's musical director conductors:
H M Timbers 1907 -
Alfred J. Dye 1920 -
Philip Haines 1931 -
Bernard Barrell 1954 -
James Butt 1985 -
Andrew Fairley 1988 -
Neville Reeder 2000 -
Christopher Robinson 2014 -
The headmaster of the Woodbridge Council School in 1907, a Mr Timbers was the orchestra’s first director and conductor. The organisation first appointed a President in 1910. In 1921 Mr Timbers handed over the baton to Alfred Dye, but continued to play double-
Alfred Dye was born in Lowestoft in 1850 and held organist positions in London before returning to Suffolk at St Mary’s Church Woodbridge in 1907. He became a much respected local music teacher, arranger and composer. He directed the orchestra from 1921 until 1931 when ill-
Mr Philip Haines was the music master at Woodbridge School and when he took up the baton in 1931 he had played violin in the orchestra for six years. After maintaining local music-
The orchestra was fortunate to have from that time a lengthy period of leadership by Bernard Barrell, whose own compositions enriched the orchestra’s work, particularly through miniatures written with amateur orchestras in mind and reflecting the character and landscape of East Anglia. His Fugue for Strings was performed in 1956, Holiday Overture in 1961, 1966 and 1969 (as well as rather more recently), Concertino for flute and strings in 1964, Salute to Stravinski in 1971 and Suffolk Celebration in 1977. Bernard’s associates in the music world included Imogen Holst who was WOS President for much of his period as Director and who herself wrote three special works for the orchestra. Bernard Barrell gave sensitive and well-
After a short interregnum in which direction was provide by James Butt a modern period followed with leadership by contemporary members and associates Andrew Fairley, Neville Reeder and the present Director Christopher Robinson.