VISITING ORCHESTRA

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25227, 4 July 1947, Page 2

VISITING ORCHESTRA

SECRETARY AND SUB-LEADER A WOMAN Miss Violet Palmer, an English violinist. enjoys the rare distinction of being both secretary and sub-leader of the Boyd Neel Orchestra, which arrived in Auckland last week. She is one of the nine women members of the orchestra, of which Miss Vivien Dixon, formerly of Christchurch, is also a member. . In private life, Miss Palmer is Mrs F. A. Bracey and from 1939 until 1942, she was in Australia with her husband when he was engaged in boys’ club \vork. She is almost an original member of the orchestra, which she joined

in 1933, and she has been secretary since her return to England from Australia in 1942. A devotee of chamber music, she studies the violin at the Royal College of Music in London.Miss Palmer considers that musicians need the constitutions of oxen. Music, she says, is really hard work. As well as carrying out her duties of secretary and playing in the orchestra, she runs her own house in Chelsea and as a hobby, makes pottery. Allowed to bring only 651 b of luggage each, including instruments and music, the women of the orchestra have had to do the best they could on a minimum of changes. Miss Phyllis Woodward, a ’cellist, is probably worse off than the others as her ’cello weighs almost 201 b.