Doncaster Council

History of the Service

Instrumental music teaching in Doncaster schools had its beginnings as far back as 1932 when Arthur Allsop, a market gardener and talented violinist from Selby, was allowed to go into two Doncaster schools at the end of the school day to teach the violin to small groups of children. 

By 1945, his work had grown to encompass other schools and had led to the formation of two orchestras, Beechfield Strings and its training orchestra, Doncaster Schools' Orchestra. 

In 1946, the Local Education Authority appointed William Appleby, a young teacher from the then Doncaster Grammar School, as its first music organiser. A highly successful trainer of choirs, he subsequently became nationally known through his work as presenter of the BBC's Singing Together programme. (The late TV broadcaster Richard Whiteley mentions these in his book "Himoff!") Under his direction instrumental music flourished and in 1967 a Schools' Music Centre was established with Peter Bear as its Head. 

William Appleby died in 1973 and in the following year, under Local Government reorganisation, Gerald Gentry was appointed as the Authority's Music Adviser. 

He was succeeded in 1980 by Peter Bear, under whose direction the service has become nationally and internationally known for the excellence of its provision. Peter Bear retired in July 2001 from his position as Head of the Service. 

The William Appleby Music Centre has been based at its current home since 1981, after out-growing the St. Sepulchre Gate building. The Danum Road site was originally Danum Girls Grammar School, and the Music Centre shared the building with Carr House Middle School until the school's closure in 1997. The ground floor now houses the Carr House Centre.