From Leonard’s autobiography

‘At 3pm on the afternoon of Wednesday 30^th May, Patricia Mary Clover and I were married at the Register Office in Hackney Town Hall, almost exactly twenty-five years after my parents had been married in the same place.  After the ceremony we returned to Stamford Hill, where I lived with my father, and had a simple reception with the family and a few friends.   Later, Pat and I left for the Gateway Theatre, Notting Hill, where Pat was working.  As we left the house we were chased by her younger sister, throwing confetti.   As well as her stage managing duties, Pat had a small part in the play and I sat in the audience and watched.  After the performance, we went home.  We had no honeymoon.  Pat was twenty and I was twenty-three.’

Getting the day off – to marry!

Leonard had had to ask Marie Rambert, founder and director of Ballet Rambert, for the day off from rehearsals of his ballet ‘The Fugitive’ – read that amusing story here.

What did they wear?

Pat wore a navy blue pinstripe suit, bought with illicit clothing coupons and made by a neighbour, and a matching hat bought by her friend Jill. Leonard wore a dark suit. But nobody took any photos.

Who was there?

Pat’s guests were her mother May (Mary), her sister Dorothy Beatrice, May’s sisters Madge and Dora, and May’s brother Jack, and her friends from Morley College drama society: Jill Good & Stephen Warwick.

Leonard’s guests were his mother Edna and father Samuel, his maternal grandmother Grannie (Gertrude) Kilrow, Edna’s two sisters Phyllis and Jeanne, and Phyllis’ 8 month old son Alan, and his childhood music teacher Norah Freeley and her husband Alfred Reynolds.

Pat’s memories

London was still in party mood after VE Day on 8^th May. But she remembered the city as drab and riven with bomb damage. No one went on honeymoon – there was nowhere to go. All the beaches were still covered with barbed wire.

But they were happy!

They had met at the Gateway Theatre in March that year, so they had only known each other three months. When telling the story afterwards, Pat explained that, although the War in Europe was ending, times still felt very uncertain, so if you were sure of something – and they were – you did it immediately.

Read the delightful story of how they met here

More information about Leonard Salzedo

The 20 minute film I made in 2021 called Leonard Salzedo A Life Composed in Music

Albany Consort 2024 concert performance of the Leonard Salzedo Harpsichord Concerto featuring cousin Jonathan Salzedo playing the harpsichord with the Albany Consort, and including an introduction by me (running time 26 Minutes)

The main Leonard Salzedo website

To join the Leonard Salzedo Society (£15 pa)

His Scores

If you are interested in playing any of my father’s music or want more information email me directly or through this website.