Web Page 3046 24th February 2023 Victor Silvester First Picture: Victor Silvester

Second Picture: 78 rpm record

Third Picture: Victor Silvester Orchestra

Forth Picture: The Twist

Victor Marlborough Silvester OBE (25 February 1900– 14 August 1978) was an English dancer, writer, musician and bandleader. He was a significant figure in the development of ballroom dance during the first half of the 20th century, and his records sold 75 million copies from the 1930s through to the 1980s He was born the second son of a vicar in Wembley and was educated at Ardingly College, St. John's School, Leatherhead and John Lyon School, Harrow, from all of which he absconded. He claimed that he enlisted in the British Army on 4 September 1916, during the First World War, serving as a private in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and that he lied about his age to the recruiting authorities, stating this as 20 whereas he was only 16. He supposedly took part in the Battle of Arras, and said he was a member of five execution squads, where deserters were shot. However, the release of his service records in 2000 revealed that he had been discharged from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders as underage on 12 September 1916, after just a week of service. However, he immediately joined the First Aid Services (the Red Cross and St John Ambulance), and served with them in France from 1 October 1916 to June 1917, before transferring to the First British Ambulance Unit For Italy. On 4 September 1917 at Sella di Dol while acting as a stretcher bearer to evacuate wounded Italian servicemen during a heavy bombardment was injured in the leg by a shell burst, but refused medical treatment until the other wounded had been attended to. For his gallantry he was awarded the Italian Bronze Medal of Military Valour. In a letter to parents dated 20 September 1917, his Commandant wrote: "He is certainly one who will be deservedly loved wherever he goes in life, and he is besides made of sterling stuff." After the war he studied at Worcester College, Oxford for a year. He decided to resume a military career when he was offered a place at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, but he quickly decided it was not for him. He also studied music at Trinity College, London, having already had private piano lessons as a child. His interests had turned to dancing. He was one of the first post-war English dancers to feature the full natural turn in the slow waltz. This was a factor in his winning the first World Ballroom Dancing Championship in 1922 with Phyllis Clarke as his partner. He married Dorothy Newton a few days later He competed again in 1924, coming second. he was a founding member of the Ballroom Committee of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing and published the first book embodying the new standards in 1927. He went on to open a dancing academy in London, which eventually developed into a chain of 23 dance studios. By the early 1930s, his teaching had become famous and he had taught some of the top celebrities of the day. He had his own BBC television show through the 1950s, called BBC Dancing Club and was later the President of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. The lack of what he felt were adequate records for dancing led him in 1935 to form his own band, later named Victor Silvester and his Ballroom Orchestra. He insisted his recordings conform precisely to the beats per minute recommended for ballroom dances, In British eyes he became indelibly associated with the catch-phrase "slow, slow, quick-quick-slow". His band always had a distinctive sound, achieved by an unusual line-up including, as well as the usual rhythm section, alto saxophone, a lead solo violin and two pianos, one taking turn in solos and the other maintaining an improvised tinkling continuo in the background throughout every piece. Silvester himself usually did not play (he was a violinist), but stood in front of his orchestra in white tie and tails, conducting with a flourish. He continued to make music for half a century, mostly covering the popular music standards and show tunes, sometimes swing, trad jazz and in latter years, especially from 1971 when the orchestra continued under his son, Victor Silvester Jr, rock and roll, disco and pop. There were other bands led by musicians who were capable of recording in strict time. The best for ballroom competitions was probably Joe Loss, who had an even longer musical career. He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1957 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the BBC Television Theatre. Victor Silvester was appointed OBE in 1961. He died while on holiday in the south of France at the age of 78. The orchestra remained in existence under his son's direction until the 1990. Victor, his wife and son are memorialised at Golders Green Crematorium, London. Stay in Touch Peter gsseditor@gmail.com