Background
Thomas Horder was born on December 8, 1910, in London, United Kingdom. He was a son of a royal physician Thomas Jeeves Horder, the 1st Baron Horder, and Geraldine Rose Doggett.
College St, Winchester SO23 9NA, United Kingdom
In his early years, Thomas attended Winchester College.
Cambridge CB2 1TQ, United Kingdom
Horded attended Trinity College, Cambridge, where he read classics.
Silk St, London EC2Y 8DT, United Kingdom
In the early 1930's, Horder attended the Guildhall School of Music (present-day Guildhall School of Music and Drama).
Thomas Horder was born on December 8, 1910, in London, United Kingdom. He was a son of a royal physician Thomas Jeeves Horder, the 1st Baron Horder, and Geraldine Rose Doggett.
In his early years, Thomas attended Winchester College and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he read classics. Also, in the early 1930's, Horder attended the Guildhall School of Music (present-day Guildhall School of Music and Drama), where he concentrated primarily on composition and later became an accomplished pianist.
In his early years, Thomas Mervyn Horder decided to pursue publishing career and by 1938, he had become one of staff members on the board of Duckworth, the small publishing firm. During his tenure at Duckworth, Horder took time out to serve in the Royal Air Force’s Fighter Command Unit during World War II. During his military service, Thomas attained the rank of Wing Commander. When the war ended, he returned to Duckworth, eventually becoming its managing director, and continued his work there until 1972.
Later in life, he composed music. His work of that period included songs, both serious and comic, setting words from authors as diverse as Shakespeare and A. E. Housman, John Betjeman and Dorothy Parker. Also, during his last years, Horder wrote a ballet, "The Unicorn in the Garden", as well as many carols, hymn-tunes and music for solo piano and piano duet.
Despite the fact, that Thomas was the 2nd Baron Horder, he never took his hereditary seat in the House of Lords or expressed much interest in political or social affairs.
Thomas Mervyn Horder never displayed his wealth, much of which he quietly gave away. He was almost ostentatiously mean with himself, and took no trouble with appearance.
Moreover, he lived in cramped flats and drove an old car or rode an old bicycle, both very carelessly. Thomas bought cheap and nasty clothes and had his hair cut by himself.
Thomas Mervyn Horder was married to a singer, Mary Ross McDougall. However, their marriage didn't last long and ended in divorce.