[In 1915 Thomas Beecham formed the Beecham Opera Company, of mainly British singers performing in English, to keep alive musical life during World War I. The company toured Britain 1916 – 1920]

Grand Opera had no need to ‘come’ to Manchester. In our day it was already rooted here, or so we liked to think. In 1916 Sir Thomas Beecham, with the help of Arthur Lomas, formed an operatic chorus, and subsequently an operatic company which gave star billing to such artists as Edna Thornton, Muriel Brunskill, Miriam Lycette, Foster Richardson, Frederick Austin, Frederick Ranalow, Frank Mullings, Desiree Ellinger. Aida, Carmen, Tosca, Parsifal, The Valkerie [sic], Rigoletta [sic], The Magic Flute, Il Seragalio, The Marriage of Figaro, were included in the repertoire and sung in English. 

The Mancunians supported Sir Thomas to a man. The performances played to packed houses. (These were the days of theatre queues and standing room only). We were taken from school to Wednesday matinees. We were taken in the evenings by our discerning Aunt Harriet […] We owe so much to Harriet who loved life, loved music and her nieces and nephews.