From the Archives: Fundraising, social networking and holiday cheer in 1936
The tradition of the annual luncheon for RSM Members.
Annual luncheon of the Members of Royal Society of Musicians: Thursday, 24th December 1936, The Holborn Restaurant, Kingsway [London]. Donated by Jane Craxton (Member), November 2020. [PUB46]
Christmas Eve 1936 was the date of the annual luncheon held at the Holborn Restaurant (founded in 1874, 129 Kingsway, London).
The toasts on the occasion were for H.M. the King and RSM. The Minutes of 3 May 1936 record that King Edward VIII had granted an annual subscription of “Ten pounds”; the abdication on 11 December, however, meant that the toast was in honour of King George VI who was to continue with an annual subscription (Minutes of 3 January 1937).
The toast for RSM was proposed by Ethel, Viscountess Snowden (1881-1951). An active supporter of the women’s suffrage movement she had also been a Director of the Royal Opera House. At the time when her husband, Viscount Snowden, was seriously unwell (he died three days after the coronation of King George VI) she hosted a fundraising event for RSM. The Minutes of 6 December 1936 record:
“At Home. The Hon. Treasurer reported on behalf of the House Committee that an “At Home” was held on 3 November last at which the Viscountess Snowden received the guests and the New English Singers gave a program [sic] of old English music. Donations amounting to “10.0.6. had been received and the expenses were £111.8.11. The meeting directed the expenses to be paid”
The New English Singers was founded in October 1932 by the bass singer Cuthbert Kelly. At the time of the “At Home” in 1936 the singers were Dorothy Silk (1883-1942), Nellie Carson (sopranos), Mary Morris (contralto), the tenors Eric Greene (1903-1966) and Peter Pears (1910-1986), and Cuthbert Kelly. The ensemble specialised in the performance of sixteenth-century madrigals and contemporary music by composers such as Holst and Vaughan Williams.