Dan Godfrey

A Woodburytype portrait of Dan Godfrey (1831–1903), bandmaster of the Grenadier Guards.

When Camille Silvy closed his studio in 1868, he marked the occasion with a 'Grand Après-Midi Photographique et Musicale' for the Benefit of the French Hospital. According to a report in The Era, various opera singers performed while ‘in the grounds a detachment of the Grenadier Guards’ band, under the control of Mr Dan Godfrey, gave an admirable selection of music'.

His son, also Dan Godfrey, was a music conductor. He was knighted in 1922 'for valuable services to British music'.

His grandson, another Dan Godfrey, was also a musician. He was station manager at BBC Manchester in the 1920s, and the first full-time conductor of the BBC Wireless Orchestra.

Photographed by William and Daniel Downey of London and Newcastle.

Published in 1894 as part of a series entitled The Cabinet Portrait Gallery.