Former bank chief Mervyn King hits right notes on cruise
HE IS usually associated with orchestrating the finances of the nation.
But to the delight of holidaymakers on a cruise ship, ex-Bank of England governor Sir Mervyn King rose to the challenge when invited to conduct the National Symphony Orchestra.
The 65-year-old former finance chief and music lover – who sits on the advisory council of the London Symphony Orchestra – had joined choristers during a recital on a voyage to New York on the Queen Mary 2.
Then he was persuaded to take up the baton by conductor Anthony Inglis.
Fellow traveller Peter Case explained: “I was singing in the choir, as was Lord King. Mr Inglis, who was conducting, then called him up and said: ‘I understand you are a tenor’.
“He then said: ‘Well I don’t have a tenner, but here is 20 quid to conduct the next number’. Lord King didn’t seem fazed at all.”
A spokesman for Cunard, which owns the Queen Mary 2, said: “We had the National Symphony Orchestra and we invite a passenger choir to take part if they wish, and Lord King was happily part of this.”