Cyril Ornadel

Simon Cyril Ornadel (2 December 192422 June 2011) was a British conductor, songwriter and composer, chiefly in musical theatre. He worked regularly with David Croft, the television writer, director and producer, as well as Norman Newell and Hal Shaper. He was awarded the Gold Badge of Merit by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors for services to British Music and won a total of four Ivor Novello Awards.

Life and career Simon Cyril Ornadel was born into a middle-class Jewish family in London, England, and studied at the Royal College of Music.

During the 1950s, he was famous for conducting the orchestra for the hit TV show Sunday Night at the London Palladium. "At My Time of Life" from Great Expectations was recorded by Bing Crosby in 1976.

Ornadel's contribution to music for television includes scores for the remake of Brief Encounter (1974) starring Richard Burton and Sophia Loren, Edward the Seventh (1975), which won a BAFTA, starring Timothy West as Edward VII, and the music for the British television science-fiction series Sapphire & Steel (1979). He also conducted music with the London Symphony Orchestra for The Strauss Family, by the eponymous composers, and was presented with a gold disc for sales.

A highlight of his career included conducting the London Symphony Orchestra at Wembley Arena with music from The Strauss Family in 1973. His film work included Some May Live (1967), Subterfuge (1968), Wedding Night (1970), Not Now Darling (1973), and many Pete Walker films including Man of Violence (1969), Cool It Carol! (1970), Die Screaming, Marianne (1971), The Flesh and Blood Show (1972) and Tiffany Jones (1973).