The Guildford Light Orchestra
The history of the orchestra
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The origins of the Guildford Light Orchestra go back to late 1969,
when Jack Malby, a retired Royal Marines band master, formed a small
group 'The Amateur Light Orchestra'.
There was no fee to join, neither was there even a charge to be an audience member.
Other than indications that the orchestra rehearsed on Sunday afternoons at the
Music Department of Surrey University there is little evidence of many performances
until January 26th 1971 at Emmanuel Church, Guildford, when a varied programme of
music from Mozart to Sullivan was performed.
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 Jack Malby conducting in YEAR |
A more formal structure emerged throughout 1971 when a small committee was formed with a President, Chairman, Secretary etc. and an annual subscription for members was introduced, and the name was changed to the Guildford Light Orchestra. Formality took a major step forward when the first AGM was held on November of that year. There is little doubt that the motivation for this formality came from the invitation for the Orchestra to play at the Guildford Show and Carnival in September 1971, music being provided in two sessions for two days. This provided a wonderful opportunity, and set the orchestra on a firm footing for the future. Whilst the Orchestra concentrated on its two concerts per year, a small group of four or five members were very active performing mid-week concerts for Senior Citizens and the like throughout the district. This was mutually beneficial to the Orchestra since it benefited from the contact made by the smaller group.
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Around this time was the first indication of co-operation with local charities. A programme dated December 1971 shows a concert was given in aid of the Guildford Appeal for Cancer Research. Audience participation was encouraged with carol singing to finish the concert. A repeat engagement from the Guildford Town Show Society in 1973 confirmed the Orchestra's status on the local music scene.
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The period up to around 1980 was one of consolidation and growth. A pattern of
small groups of members entertaining such diverse groups as Shalford Autumn Club,
The Monday Club at Cranleigh, West Horsley WI etc emerged; the players being usually
saxophone, violin, cello, bass and piano, and the programme almost always including
choruses in which the audience participated.
By this time the full orchestra had firmly established it's twice-a- year concert pattern. Close co-operation between the Orchestra and the Friends of Farnham Road Hospital, Guildford had resulted in the provision of their Mitchell Hall becoming available as a permanent venue for both concerts and rehearsals which were by this time being held on a regular Sunday afternoon basis. Charities to benefit from the concerts included Music For The Disabled, a formal title adopted for the spin-off group described earlier, this arrangement continued happily until the closure of the Mitchell Hall; the last concert there being in December 1998. Since that time, the Orchestra has become itinerant in respect of both concert and rehearsal accommodation. |
 Gwyneth Malby and Barrie Lee chatting during a rehearsal tea break |