Appendix B - The BBC Symphony Orchestra Moves to Bedford

Summary

With the outbreak of war in September 1939, many major British institutions that were based in London, which was the anticipated principal target of enemy bombs, were moved to safer – or what were expected to be safer – locations. The initial new location for the BBC's Music Department and Symphony Orchestra was Bristol, but when this medium-sized city came under heavy attack in late 1940 and early 1941, thoughts turned to finding a safer home for the Orchestra. As the Orchestra's conductor, Sir Adrian Boult, later recalled, ‘Towards the end of 1940 the raid situation at Bristol had become so tiresome that it was decided we should record our concerts in the afternoon [daytime raids were infrequent] and then disperse to our homes, leaving a few brave engineers to play it. Unfortunately, the quality of wartime recording was very variable, and we had to listen – from our shelters – to stuff which made us sometimes rather ashamed, and this, as well as the actual raids, began to suggest a move to a quieter spot.’

The quieter place chosen was Bedford. ‘After exhaustive enquiry’, according to an internal BBC memo of 5 April 1941, ‘it is apparent that Bedford would be a first class centre for [the] Music Department. It is approximately 50 miles from London and even in present circumstances travelling facilities are very good and include an hourly bus service to and from London. The Town Council and Educational authorities are anxious to give every possible help to secure the necessary accommodation, and are prepared to assist us in every way.’ Bedford was able to provide the Orchestra with the necessary studio facilities, including the Corn Exchange on St Paul's Square in the town's centre, which needed to be and apparently was available for four or five performances a week. (The alternative large studio was the Great Hall of the Bedford School.) Since the Music Production and Religion Departments of the BBC also relocated to Bedford, office space had to be found for almost 100 people and billets for close to 400, including these administrators and other support staff, engineers, and the Orchestra's 90 players.