Obituary: Neil Watson, 1928-2025

The LSO is saddened to hear of the death of former Co-Principal Second Violin Neil Watson on 27 November.

Neil was born in Nottingham in 1928 and had no formal musical education. It was never his intention to become a musician and he started his working life as a teacher but playing violin, sax and drums in dance bands and jazz groups in his spare time, as well as conducting the Nottingham Symphony Orchestra.

He soon realised that he enjoyed playing and decided to change career.  His first orchestral jobs were with the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra in Leeds and then the Scottish National Orchestra. After a short spell at the Royal Opera House, he joined the LSO in 1956 as a member of the Second Violin section.  He was appointed Sub Principal Second Violin in 1965 and then Co-Principal in 1970.  He worked closely with Neville Marriner and enjoyed playing chamber music.

During his time with the LSO he worked with five Principal Conductors, Pierre Monteux, Istvan Kertesz, André Previn, Claudio Abbado and Michael Tilson Thomas as well as many of the most celebrated conductors, artists and composers of the time.  He played on many outstanding recordings and film soundtracks, including John Williams’ Star Wars, Superman and Raiders of the Lost Ark.  Neil travelled the world with the LSO – his first tour was in 1956 when the Orchestra was the first British Orchestra to perform in South Africa.  Two World Tours followed in 1964 and 1966 as well as a residency at the Florida International Festival.

Neil retired from the LSO in 1994 but was a regular attendee at the annual LSO Reunions.

He will be greatly missed and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.