History

History

Founded in the year 2003 with the support and encouragement of Lady Bliss, who became our first President, the Arthur Bliss Society celebrates its 20th anniversary this year (2023).  George Dannatt, chartered surveyor, music critic and artist, was a great family friend of the Blisses and served as Vice-President for many years before succeeding Lady Bliss as President in November 2008. His advice was always much appreciated by the Committee. Ian Venables became President in 2010 and Mark Bebbington, who had long been a Patron and supporter of the Arthur Bliss Society, became Vice-President in 2020. The Founder-Chairman of the Arthur Bliss Society Gerald Towell was invited to become a Vice-President in 2023.

Patrons of the Society are musicians James Gilchrist, Julian Lloyd Webber, Rebeca Omordia and Anna Lapwood, composer Philip Wilby and musicologist/composer Robert Matthew-Walker.

Founder-Chairman Gerald Towell first met Lady Bliss at a Cheltenham CBSO concert in 1976 and there followed a firm friendship which, after many years and with the support of the Bliss Trust, led to an invitation to Gerald to form a society to promote music of Arthur Bliss.