Hugh Allen

Sir Hugh Percy Allen (23 December 186920 February 1946) was an English musician, academic, and administrator. He was a leading influence on British musical life in the first half of the 20th century.

Early life and education Hugh Allen was born in Reading, Berkshire, the youngest of seven children of John Herbert Allen (1834–1905), who worked for biscuit makers Huntley & Palmer, and Rebecca (1836–1919), daughter of Samuel Bevan Stevens, of the firm of Huntley, Bourne & Stevens, which manufactured tins for Huntley & Palmer. His musical talent was apparent from an early age, and at 11 he was organist of a local parish church. He was educated at Kendrick School, Reading, and won an organ scholarship to Christ's College, Cambridge, graduating BA from Cambridge in 1895. He became cathedral organist at St Asaph Cathedral and then Ely Cathedral, before, in 1901, becoming organist of New College, Oxford, where he revitalised the musical life of the university.

In 1902 he launched a new amateur orchestra in Oxford, called at first Dr Allen's Orchestra; in 1919 it became the Oxford Orchestral Society.

In 1907 he was appointed conductor of the Bach Choir in London, and in 1913 he shared the Leeds Festival with Artur Nikisch and Sir Edward Elgar.

As Director of the Royal College, as The Times later observed "he was then brought into a wider sphere and began to show unsuspected qualities of statesmanship." and appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in the 1926 New Years Honours List. He was promoted to Knight Commander (KCVO in the 1928 King's Birthday Honours List 1928 and to Knight Grand Cross (GCVO) in the 1935 King's Birthday Honours List.

Besides receiving his Oxford doctorate he was awarded honorary doctorates by the universities of Cambridge (1925), Reading (1938), Sheffield (1926), and Berlin. He was an honorary fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge (1926); and in 1937 was Master of the Worshipful Company of Musicians.

On 17 February 1946, Allen was knocked down by a motorcyclist in Oxford. He died of his injuries three days later at Radcliffe Infirmary, aged 76.

Personal life On 2 April 1902, he married Edith Winifred Hall (1877–1966) and together they had one daughter and one son.