Meredith Davies, former conductor of the City of Birmingham Choir and an associate conductor of the CBSO, has died at the age of 82.
He made a lasting mark on the history of the CBSO when he conducted the orchestra and choir in the premiere of Britten's War Requiem in the new Coventry Cathedral in 1962, with the composer conducting the soloists and chamber ensemble.
CBSO historian Beresford King-Smith said yesterday: "Meredith was actually offered the principal conductorship in 1959 when Andrjez Panufnik left in a hurry after two years.
"But he turned it down because he didn't feel he was up to it, which was fairly characteristic. He was a very nice man, and really quite a significant figure."
