24/05/2026
ON THIS DAY: Composer Harry Parr-Davies was born on Grandison Street, Briton Ferry on 24th May 1914.
Parr-Davies, whose family moved to Arthur Street, Neath when he was still of a young age, attended Gnoll School and later Neath Grammar School. He was considered a musical prodigy even in his school days; composing operettas and serving as assistant borough organist in his teens.
This brought him to the attention of celebrated composer Sir Walford Davies, who encouraged Parr-Davies to study music at either Oxford of Cambridge. Harry chose to do neither; but he did leave Wales to further his musical career.
Renowned as a very shy individual, it was a highly out-of-character move when Parr-Davies talked his way into the dressing room of the singer and actress Gracie Fields at the Winter Garden Theatre in Drury Lane, London to show her some of his musical works. Fields' door attendant let Parr-Davies in thinking he was a post boy! Shortly thereafter, he became Fields' sole piano accompanist, with her for tours of South Africa, Canada, Europe and the USA, among others.
Fields would go on to perform Parr-Davies's compositions, with his 'Wish Me Well (As You Wave Me Goodbye)' enjoying great Wartime success in Fields' film Shipyard Sally (1939). Harry and Fields would travel the world together and in 1939 both found themselves in the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA), entertaining the British armed forces personnel.
His successes continued after the War with the likes of Fine Feathers (1945), Her Excellency (1949) and Dear Miss Phoebe (1950).
Sadly, Harry's time was tragically cut short at the height of his powers when he succumbed to an internal haemorrhage caused by a perforated ulcer on 14th October 1955. He was just 41. He is buried at Oystermouth Cemetery, Mumbles. A plaque remembers him in Neath Town Hall, while Parr Avenue in Neath is named for him.
His music has lived on in the many stars of his day he worked alongside - a list which includes Betty Driver (Turpin), Pat Kirkwood, George Formby, Evelyn Laye, Tommy Trinder and Tessie O'Shea (for whom he wrote her greatest hit Keep Smiling), among many others.
His work has also appeared in Dad's Army and was parodied by Monty Python.
The below portrait of Harry Parr-Davies by John Flanagan was commissioned by Fields for Harry's twenty-first birthday in 1935. Image credit: Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council
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