Aldrovand Vecelli Thomas Maynard (1881 – 1938) was a native of Tuckingmill and began life as a patternmaker in the employ of Holman Bros Ltd., of Camborne, and later followed the same occupation in South Africa for seven years; he then returned to Camborne. and was for two years employed by Bickford, Smith and Co., Ltd. at Tuckingmill. A two years’ spell in South Africa followed and, during, the last war, he was working at Wheal Kitty -mine, St. Agnes, as an engineer. The mine closed down after six years, and he then secured employment as a draughtsman in a Detroit, U.S:A., motor factory. Whilst in Detroit he became chief tenor soloist at Christ Church and became famous for his vocal powers. It was while he was in South Africa, however, that he began to study the production of his voice, and there he studied under Mr. Bassett Nicholls. He was a member of the Johannesburg Philharmonic Musical Society, and the Kimberley Diamond-fields Musical Society. His fame as a tenor gained him a reputation through the Transvaal, and it is said, as an indication of the popularity of his voice, that people ‘would walk six miles to hear him.
He became known as the “South African, tenor,” and this title remained with him when he returned to Cornwall, where he was immediately in demand at musical functions of importance and at countless smaller events up and down the county. He was always ready to assist with his fine voice any deserving cause for which his help was sought, and his name was familiar on the lips of Cornishmen not only at home, but abroad.
When he realized that illness would inevitably affect his vocal powers, he had made a few records for distribution among his friends; but the publication be-came known, and such frequent requests were made at a local shop for Mr. Maynard’s records, that it was arranged that a small supply should become available to the public, and they were soon disposed of, being eagerly purchased by his host of admirers.
His last appearance in public was at Redruth Fore-street, Methodist School room, on the occasion of the jubilee there of the chapel organist, Mr. M. Clemens, himself a musician famous in Cornwall. On that occasion, Mr. Maynard sang what was always, perhaps, his greatest success, the flamboyant “Sound an alarm,” from “Judas. Maccabeus.” (from Obituary 1938)
Aldrovand Maynard’s musical world is captured in the pages of the musical times:
“Mr. Aldrovand Maynard. the Cornish- African tenor and B.B.C. artist, has long been a favourite among his Cornish kinsmen, many whom —at home, in the Transvaal, the United States and elsewhere, will be glad know that a gramophone record of his singing is now available.”25 January 1934 – Cornishman – Penzance, Cornwall :
Aldrovand Maynard was a skilled engineer with a number of patents to his name.
Notes
With thanks to Aldovrand Maynard’s family and Chris Trevena of “Sounds Like Cornwall” for providing the background information and recordings.