About Vernon Elliott
Vernon Pelling Elliott (27 July 1912 – 12 October 1996) was a British bassoonist, conductor and composer. He was an influential teacher of the bassoon for over 40 years. From the 1960s he became more widely known as the composer of music for short animated television films for children, including the Ivor the Engine series (1959-1977). == Education and war service == Born in Croydon into a musical family, Elliott took up the bassoon at a very early age. He attended Selhurst Grammar School and worked in an office for a while, before obtaining a scholarship to the Royal College of Music where he won the Edwin James Woodwind Prize. However, he left before graduating in order to take up the full-time position as principal bassoonist with the Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra in 1937. He also began playing with Sadler's Wells Opera in 1938. During the war he served in the Irish Guards, playing in the band. == Musical career == From then on he had an eventful, busy and very musical life, one which saw him as a founder member of Walter Legge's Philharmonia Orchestra in 1945, a regular player at English National Opera and (from 1949) the Royal Opera House, and a member of Benjamin Britten's English Opera Group orchestra, performing in the first performances of Peter Grimes (1945) and The Turn of the Screw (1954). When Legge disbanded the Philharmonia in 1964, Elliott (with his colleague Gwydion Brooke and others), reformed themselves as the New Philharmonia.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.