In idle conversation on one occasion recently, our cellist said casually, ‘You know, she’s from a distinguished pedigree: her Uncle Aubrey was principal horn in all the top London orchestras for around 50 years.’

What? How many Aubreys were playing principal horn on the London circuit for 50 years? Doesn’t that have to be Aubrey Brain? So, she must be Dennis Brain’s cousin? Why on earth doesn’t she say that instead? Why pick on the slightly less well-known father of the greatest horn player who ever lived?

I had to find out more, and I found out that there was, in fact, another Aubrey: Aubrey Thonger. Amazingly, the two Aubreys were contemporaries as horn students at the Royal College of Music. They were awarded joint First Place in the RCM’s Performance Competition and were later jointly appointed Co Principal Horn players in the BBC Symphony Orchestra. They both had equally distinguished careers on the London scene, and were lifelong friends.

Positions held by Aubrey Thonger included the Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Opera House Orchestra, Covent Garden, Orchestra of the Royal Philharmonic Society, New Symphony Orchestra of London, Beecham Symphony Orchestra, New London Chamber Orchestra, Mantovani Orchestra and the Little Orchestra of London. He was a busy studio player and appears on many film sound tracks. He enjoyed doing summer seasons on piers by the seaside, and was still playing professionally until shortly before his death at the age of 79.

Pauline Thonger had long been deeply saddened by the fact that everyone has heard of Aubrey Brain, because of his famous son, and no-one remembers her equally distinguished Uncle Aubrey, who was clearly a hero in her family. She keeps a lovely framed photo of him on her grand piano. So I wondered if we could do something for her, and for her Uncle Aubrey Thonger. I wondered if we could establish an award in his name.

The Windsor & Maidenhead Symphony Orchestra runs an annual Young Musician Concerto Competition: winners have included BBC Young Musician stars Martin James Bartlett and Ryan Wang. Perhaps we could set up an Aubrey Thonger Cup, to bring her distinguished uncle’s name into the limelight. Pauline was thrilled at the idea. She chose a design of cup, we had it appropriately engraved ready for our Young Musician Concerto Competition held annually in October.

His name may not be quite so easily forgotten now. And perhaps, for a little while at least, readers of this account will have a better understanding of this ‘other’ Aubrey, and the remarkable story behind his name.

Frances Jones
With thanks to Tony Catterick, BHS archivist, for help with tracking down Aubrey Thonger’s biographical notes.