ABERGAVENNY conductor Dr Vernon Handley collected his CBE for services to music yesterday.
During his 40-year career, Handley, who has long championed British classical music, has recorded more than 150 discs, with more than 90 featuring the works of British composers. The 74-year-old former associate conductor with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, said: "I feel very grateful to all my friends who I've coerced into letting me conduct British music.
"I do my Beethoven, but I do my Vaughan Williams as well." He is working on conducting and recording choral pieces written by British composer Sir Granville Bantock.
"I'm a 74-year-old doing a 35-year-old man's job," he added. Dr Handley received his CBE from the Prince of Wales at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace.
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