Rae Jenkins

Rae Jenkins MBE FRAM, born Henry Horatio Jenkins[1] (19 April 1903[1] – 29 March 1985[2]) was a Welsh violinist and later conductor of light music, notably with the BBC Midland Light Orchestra (1942–1946),[3] the. Bbc variety Orchestra (1946–?), and as principal conductor of the BBC Welsh Orchestra (1950–1965).[4][5] In 1955 Hubert Clifford, Head of Music at the BBC, called Jenkins "the most gifted and experienced conductor of light music in the country".[6]

MBE
Rae Jenkins
Birth nameHenry Horatio Jenkins
Born19 April 1903
DiedMarch 29, 1985(1985-03-29) (aged 81)
GenresLight music
Occupation(s)Conductor
InstrumentsViolin

Jenkins was born at Ammanford in 1903,[4][7] the son of a coal miner.[3] Given a violin when four years old, he was first violin in his local theatre orchestra by the age of eleven.[3] He subsequently attended the Royal Academy of Music, where he studied viola under Lionel Tertis and conducting under Sir Henry Wood.[8]

He worked on radio programmes, including It's That Man Again (ITMA). He was also an authority on music of gypsy origin.[3]

He appeared as a "castaway" on the BBC Radio programme Desert Island Discs on 6 September 1965.[9] He was a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music (FRAM).

A portrait of Jenkins was painted by William Redgrave. A plaque in Ammanford Town Hall commemorates him. It reads:

In loving memory of

Rae Jenkins M.B.E. F.R.A.M.

1903–1985 Ammanford

born musician who devoted

his life to music

conductor of B.B.C. Midland, Variety and

Welsh Orchestras

Biography
  • Johns-Davies, Jayne Marilyn (2006). Rae Jenkins FRAM, MBE: the life story of Welsh conductor and musician 1903 to 1985.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

References
  1. Johns-Davies 2006, p. 7
  2. Johns-Davies 2006, p. 28
  3. "The Pit Boy at the BBC" (PDF). The Children's Newspaper. 20 April 1946. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  4. Griffiths, Rhidian. "Walters, Irwyn Ranald (1902–1992)". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  5. "The BBC Midland Light Orchestra". Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  6. Johns-Davies 2006, pp. 22–3
  7. Norman, Terry (14 January 2011). "Star the world forgot – twice". South Wales Guardian. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  8. Johns-Davies 2006, p. 11
  9. "Desert Island Discs – Castaway : Rae Jenkins". BBC Online. BBC. Retrieved 27 July 2014.


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