Vice President Neil Roberts

I came to Leicester in 1971, having been appointed Head of English at Wyggeston Boys Grammar School, which became a 6th Form College in 1976. I was a Vice principal of that from 1980 until retirement in 1995. I was also Principal Examiner for Cambridge’s International GCSE English Literature Syllabus from 1988 until 2012.

As regards music, I had been a classical music junkie since finding that I had the newly built Royal Festival Hall up the line from the family home in Kingston. In Leicester on retirement an ex pupil persuaded me to join the Board of the then fledgling Leicester International Music Festival and some time later I found myself as Chairman, a hairy job! I lasted 5 years in that capacity and got to know many fine musicians in the process. I remain closely associated with the organisation.

As for the Leicester Recorded Music Society, my late wife and I first joined in the late 80’s and I became chairman in 1995 when it was severely ailing. Luckily for all of us the devoted committee turned things round. I handed over to Bryan Lewis in 2007. Since then as one of the vice presidents I have retained a close connection with what is now The Leicester Music Society. On occasions in the new century I have been given the opportunity to spout my views on music to the Society.

Quite separately those views have found their home in a blog called A Leicester Concertgoer’s Diary, begun to fill the gap left by the ailing local paper effectively turning its back on reviewing anything to do with the thriving classical music scene in the city.