6 - The Years of Austerity

Summary

Allen’s liberal regime of hearty musical endeavour was succeeded by the restrictive and disciplinarian approach of George Dyson. Dyson changed the College’s character, eschewing its traditional humanism for rigorously enforced study patterns. The Second World War changed things further, and the chapter looks at how the effects of the war are reflected in its operational expenditure. But Dyson kept the College open, which enabled a generation of outstanding talent to continue their studies. The government’s unexpected move to support performance training as part of preparations for peacetime (prompted by Lord Keynes, then Chairman of CEMA) led to the Moberly Committee, which recommended payment of a Treasury grant to the RCM, the RAM and the Royal Manchester Colleges. This enabled Dyson to reduce student numbers to increase standards. The chapter looks at Dyson’s autocratic and destructive approach to the RCM’s important historical collections. Bullock’s time as Director brought a more humane regime that brought reforms to the GRSM and by establishing a working basis with Whitehall led to permission for the much needed 1965 Building.