South Yorkshire Times, November 3rd 1933

Swinton

Mr. R. W. Symons, of Swinton, a member of the teaching staff at the Roman Terrace Council School won first prize in the Tudor song class at the Blackpool Festival.

Out of a possible 200, Mr. Symons was awarded 178 marks. The test pieces were “Tobacco” (Hume) and “I care not for these ladies” (Campion). The class was open to all male voices, competitors to accompany themselves. In his adjudication Sir Richard Terry congratulated Mr. Symons on his sense of humour, diction, clean tone and excellent piano touch. He obtained the rhythmic lilt and swing and had reproduced it daintily. Mr. Symons recently passed with distinction the intermediate examination of the Royal School of Music in singing and harmony. He gained the highest aggregate of marks in the examination and has been requested to sing at the R.S.M. prize distribution in Sheffield on November 22nd.