Radlett Music Club History
Although there is evidence of concerts being put on in Radlett in the 1920s, the present constituted Radlett Music Club was started in 1936 by Margaret Goodman, a local violinist . The original aim was “to hold concerts during the winter season”. The initial subscription for the year was one guinea (£1.05) and the club continued until the Second World War called a halt to its progress.
Revived after the war by Mrs M.A. Brittan and others, it began holding concerts at the Aldenham Lodge Hotel until that was demolished in 1964. Ten years later the club settled at the Radlett Hall, a small single-storey cinema converted into a village hall and which is now the Radlett United Synagogue. In 1996 our concerts transferred to the new, purpose -built Radlett Centre, a very well-appointed concert hall with superb facilities,
including tiered seating and a foyer bar.
The aim has been to have the widest possible appeal, so the concerts range from classical chamber ensembles to solo pianists and, occasionally, Sunday afternoon concerts suitable for all the family. The artistes are just as varied: many are young, yet already making names for themselves. Over the years the club has engaged many well-known musicians including Julian Bream, Dennis Brain and Jack Brymer. Recent seasons have seen concerts by Freddie Kempf, David Owen Norris, Julian Bliss, Yevgeny Sudbin and Tom Poster.
The club has had some distinguished Presidents. After the war, the composer Michael Head first took the helm. He was succeeded by the well-known conductor Norman del Mar and then the composer, conductor, musicologist and broadcaster, Antony Hopkins CBE. The club is also grateful for the valuable support it receives from its Patron, John Apthorp CBE.
Michael Stockbridge
Revived after the war by Mrs M.A. Brittan and others, it began holding concerts at the Aldenham Lodge Hotel until that was demolished in 1964. Ten years later the club settled at the Radlett Hall, a small single-storey cinema converted into a village hall and which is now the Radlett United Synagogue. In 1996 our concerts transferred to the new, purpose -built Radlett Centre, a very well-appointed concert hall with superb facilities,
including tiered seating and a foyer bar.
The aim has been to have the widest possible appeal, so the concerts range from classical chamber ensembles to solo pianists and, occasionally, Sunday afternoon concerts suitable for all the family. The artistes are just as varied: many are young, yet already making names for themselves. Over the years the club has engaged many well-known musicians including Julian Bream, Dennis Brain and Jack Brymer. Recent seasons have seen concerts by Freddie Kempf, David Owen Norris, Julian Bliss, Yevgeny Sudbin and Tom Poster.
The club has had some distinguished Presidents. After the war, the composer Michael Head first took the helm. He was succeeded by the well-known conductor Norman del Mar and then the composer, conductor, musicologist and broadcaster, Antony Hopkins CBE. The club is also grateful for the valuable support it receives from its Patron, John Apthorp CBE.
Michael Stockbridge
Radlett and District Music Club - 1924 - 1925
As mentioned at the 2014 AGM, our concert organiser, Jim Parkin, has been investigating the early history of the club. The initial results of this work, reports of the concerts from the Herts Advertiser, can be downloaded as a PDF file via the following link:
| radlett_music_club_1924-25.pdf |
