Edward Wulstan Atkins

Background

Edward Wulstan Atkins was born on November 24, 1904, in Worcester, England, United Kingdom. He was the son of Ivor Atkins, the choirmaster, and organist, and his wife, Katherine Butler.

Education

Edward Wulstan Atkins was educated at the choir school, before moving on to Shrewsbury School. In 1926 he earned a bachelor's degree from Christ’s College, Cambridge. In 1929 Atkins obtained a master's degree from this college.

Career

Edward Wulstan Atkins's early career was associated with the engineering firm of Mott, Hay and Anderson, with whom he was involved in the building of many bridges and tunnels in the north of England, including the Forth Road Bridge and the famous bridge over the Tyne at Newcastle. He spent the Second World War years working in Bath for a gas company, after which he was sent by the government to manage building projects in the North East. In 1950 he became Special Services Manager for the South Eastern Gas Board and it was then that he made his home in Woldingham, Surrey, where he resided for the rest of his life.

After retiring in 1969, Atkins poured all his energies into the work he had only managed as a sideline until then: promoting Edward Elgar’s music. Atkins was for a time chairman of the Elgar Birthplace Trust but he transformed it into more of a charitable organization as the Elgar Foundation. He was its chairman for many years until he became president, and latterly joint-president with Dame Janet Baker.

Atkins was also the author of two books - The Elgar-Atkins Friendship (1984) and The Centenary of the Birth of a Friendship (1990) - and appeared on various BBC-Radio programs to share his expertise not only on Elgar but on other composers as well. He was acted as a secretary, treasurer, and vice-president of Elgar Society.

Achievements

• Edward Wulstan Atkins is most remembered for his work in promoting the music and legacy of his godfather, English composer Edward Elgar. He established the Elgar Foundation and building a memorial center to the composer at Elgar’s birthplace in Lower Broadheath. The completion of the Elgar Center in 2000 was one of Atkins’s major life accomplishments.

Works

More photos

• book

  • The Elgar-Atkins Friendship 1984
  • The Centenary of the Birth of a Friendship 1990

Views

Edward Wulston Atkins was a patron of various music organizations, including the Croydon Philharmonic Choir, the Oxted and Limpsfield Music Society, and the Elgar Chorale and Camerata.

Connections

Edward Wulstan Atkins married Emily Fleming, in 1945. They had two children, one son, and one daughter. In 2002 his wife died.

Father:

Ivor Atkins

Mother:

Katherine Atkins

late spouse:

Emily Fleming

godfather:

Sir Edward Elgar

Edward Wulstan Atkins saw Elgar often in the 1920s and 1930s when the composer lived in a succession of rented houses in Worcestershire and Warwickshire before settling in his last home, Marl Bank, at Worcester.

References

• Contemporary Authors
  2011