Christian Victor Noel Hope Hely-Hutchinson was a British composer, conductor, pianist and music administrator.
14 Facts About Victor Hely-Hutchinson
Victor Hely-Hutchinson is best known for the Carol Symphony and for humorous song-settings.
Victor Hely-Hutchinson's parents were Sir Walter Hely-Hutchinson, Governor of Cape Colony from 1901 to 1910 during and after the Boer War, and May Hely-Hutchinson.
Victor Hely-Hutchinson initially lived in Kent, then moved back to South Africa in 1907.
Victor Hely-Hutchinson was taught the piano by Dr Thomas Barrow Dowling, the organist of Cape Town cathedral.
Victor Hely-Hutchinson was then educated at Eton College, and then read history at Balliol College, Oxford.
Victor Hely-Hutchinson joined the BBC at Savoy Hill in 1926, becoming a conductor, pianist, and accompanist.
Victor Hely-Hutchinson moved to Hampstead, where his two sons were born.
Victor Hely-Hutchinson never purchased a car, always using his bicycle.
The winter of 1947 was very long-lasting and to save fuel, Victor Hely-Hutchinson refused to switch on the radiators in his office.
Victor Hely-Hutchinson died from acute meningitis on 11 March 1947 at the age of 45.
Victor Hely-Hutchinson remains well known for his settings of various nursery rhymes and children's poems.
Victor Hely-Hutchinson's setting of "Old Mother Hubbard" is arranged in the manner of Handel.
Victor Hely-Hutchinson's song setting of Edward Lear's "The Owl and the Pussycat" was notably recorded in 1955 by Elton Hayes and featured regularly on the BBC's Children's Favourites radio show.