Margaret Betty (Humby) Beecham (1908 - 1958)

Born 8 Apr 1908 in Hendon, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom

Wife of Harold Cashel Thomas — married 1928 in Fulham, London, England, United Kingdom

Wife of Thomas Beecham CH FRCM — married 1943 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States

Died 2 Sep 1958 at age 50 in Argentina

Biography

Betty (Humby) Beecham is Notable.

Margaret Betty Humby was born on 8th April 1908 in Hendon, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom. Betty, as she was known, was the daughter of Daniel Humby, a dentist and member of the Royal College of Surgeons. ^[1]

At the age of ten years, Betty became the youngest person ever to win a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music, where she also won the Sterndale Bennett Prize. When she was fourteen, she taught thirty pupils of her own, and two years later became a piano professor, under Myra Hess at Tobias Matthay's London music school. She later became a popular concert pianist. ^[2]

Betty married Anglican priest, Reverend Harold Cashel Thomas in 1928 in Fulham, London. ^[3] They had a son, Sir Jeremy Cashel Thomas (1931-), who became a diplomat. Her husband was appointed vicar of St Philip's in London about 1940, however, died soon afterward. In 1940, with war looming about them, Betty left Britain with Jeremy for the United States.

In January 1943, before a police justice in Manhattan, New York, Betty married Sir Thomas Beecham, an internationally-acclaimed conductor who she had known for several years and worked with and was 29 years her senior. By so doing she became entitled as Lady Beecham. To ensure they complied with the technicalities of English law they underwent a second wedding on th7 September 1944, before Supreme Court Justice Samuel Null in his chambers at County Court House, New York. ^[4] They lived in New York City at 31 East 79th Street.

Aged 50 years, she passed away of a heart attack on 2nd September 1958 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, whilst accompanying her husband whilst he conducted in the city. Her remains were cremated there and returned to London for placement.

Sources

1. ↑ UK FreeBMD Birth Index Jun qtr 1908, vol 3a, page 338
2. ↑ Time magazine, 30 Jun 1941: 'Pianist Humby'; accessed 1 Mar 2022
3. ↑ UK FreeBMD Marriage Index Jun qtr 1928, vol 1a , page 710
4. ↑ Reid, Charles. 'Thomas Beecham: An Independent Biography', 1961, p. 222-224

See also:

• Margaret is mentioned in the book 'BOOSEY & HAWKES: THE PUBLISHING STORY' written by Helen Wallace.'Boosey & Hawkes, the Publishing Story' by Helen Wallace-1
• Beth Britten's biography of her brother Benjamin Britten the composer, entitled 'My Brother Benjamin', published by The Kensal Press in 1986 (ISBN 0-946041-40-7), includes extensive family trees. Hundreds of friends, professional connections and people in the 'music world' are also mentioned in the text.'My Brother Benjamin' by his sister Beth Britten

• The Peerage: Betty Humby; accessed 1 Mar 2022.
• Wikipedia: Betty Humby; accessed 1 Mar 2022.