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Gordon Fox was born at Somercotes on 14 February 1910 and due to his auspicious date of birth was given the middle name of Valentine.  The family lived at No. 2, Langley Avenue, Somercotes.

Even as a young boy Gordon must have taken an interest in music and probably took lessons from Selwyn Wright, a teacher of violin and viola who also lived on Langley Avenue. Such was his obvious talent playing the violin that on 12 December 1928 his parents purchased a violin for Gordon from Selwyn Wright for £25, which was a large sum of money in those days. He was 18 years old at the time and no doubt the violin was bought as Christmas present.

By 1931 he was already performing. On 4 March that year he was second violinist in a concert given by the Riddings Choral Society of Mendelssohn’s Elijah at the Wesleyan Chapel, Riddings. Around this time the Ripley & Heanor News published various articles relating to local concerts. On 23 October 1931 an article read: “Chapel sermons were celebrated at the Birchwood United Methodist Church on Sunday. The preacher, morning and evening, was Mr. W. G. Ward (Alfreton). At the evening service a fine programme of instrumental music was given the following artistes: Mrs. Jowitt, L.R.A.M. (Derby), pianoforte solos; Mr. Gordon Fox (Somercotes), violin; Miss T. Sissons (Underwood), ’cello; and Miss E. Ward (Somercotes), vocalist.” The newspaper published on 19 February 1932 ran the following: “A special effort on behalf of Somercotes Nursing Association was held in Somercotes Empire Theatre [kindly lent for the occasion] on Monday and Wednesday evenings, when the Rebel Dramatic Society presented the farce, in three acts, “Tons of Money”…the leader of the orchestra, Mr Gordon Fox of Somercotes” and on 22 April the same year: “Somercotes Wesleyans held their Sunday School anniversary services on Sunday… There was a crowded congregation evening service, when the choir sang the anthem “Stand and bless the Lord.” The accompaniment was provided by an orchestra consisting of Mr. Gordon Fox, Mr. Philip Smith and Mr. Cedric Bullock (violins). Mr. W. Kerry (’cello). Mr. B. Walters (flute), and Mr. William Wharton (piano).”

PHOTO:  An early photograph of Gordon Fox

 

His ambition and talent though, went far beyond local performances. On 2 May 1932 he received a letter from Trinity College of Music offering a scholarship and between August that year and April 1933 he studied under Professor Otakar Sevcik at Pisek in Czechoslovakia. Sevcik was a world renowned violinist and taught many musicians although the standard for a scholarship was very high. Sevcik was one time head of the violin department at the Prague Conservatory and taught in Salzburg, Vienna, Kiev, London, Chicago and New York, to name but a few places. He settled though in Pisek, a town in Czechoslovakia where he taught privately and where Gordon would learn under his tutelage.

Professor Sevcik visited London in 1933, and John accompanied him. An article was published in the Derbyshire Times & Chesterfield Herald on 11 March 1933 about the trip: “GIFTED SOMERCOTES VIOLINIST - To Accompany Famous Musician from Czecho-Slovakia - The photograph is of Mr. Gordon

Valentine Fox. son of Mr. and Mrs. John Fox, Somercotes, who is accompanying Professor Ottokar Sevcik, the famous violinist, and the man who taught Kubelik, on his visit to London from Czecho-slovakia at the beginning of next month. Mr. Fox, who is an accomplished violinist, was a pupil of Miss Sarah Fennings’ London, and after studying under her for some time obtained a scholarship at the Trinity College of Music. Last year he was included in the summer class which went from England to Czecho-slovakia to receive further tuition for seven weeks under Professor Seveik. He returned to England with the class, but later went out again, and so interested was the professor in his musical talent and capabilities that he made him his secretary, and it is in this capacity that Mr. Fox will accompany the famous violinist, who is 80 years of age, on his trip to England, when on April 3rd he will give lessons and auditions at the Guildhall School of Music, London, for three and a half months.”

Professor Otakar Sevcik died in January 1934, less than a year after Gordon finished his studies.

PHOTO: Gordon Fox with Professor Otakar Sevcik [1933]

 

Having been taught by one of the world’s greatest violinists of the time Gordon would not have had any problems finding work. He was only in his early twenties, and decided that travelling the world was something he wanted to do. He joined an orchestra on a cruise ship at the height of their popularity and played for the passengers whilst seeing the world. It is recorded that he visited Sydney, Australia, but this must have been just one of many places that he experienced. On 12 June 1935 he signed the official visitor’s book on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which had only been officially opened two years previous. Gordon sailed on the SS “Narkunda.” The “Narkunda” sailed on her maiden voyage in 1920 and at the time was P & O’s largest cruise ship. Her regular voyage was between the UK and Australia  and she also throughout the Far East. Turned into a troop ship during World War Two she was bombed by German aircraft and sank off Bougie, Algeria on 14 November 1942. In-between voyages Gordon lived and worked in London.

PHOTO: Gordon Fox on the P&O cruise ship "Narkunda"

 

By 1939 and the outbreak of war Gordon was back in England full time. On the 1939 Register, complied in September of that year for the issuing of identity cards and ration books, Gordon was listed living at 148, The Broadway, Dudley, working as a professional violinist. By 1946 though, he had moved to Clifton Gardens, London W9, in the heart of Maida Vale.

There are a few pieces of ephemera through which Gordon’s life in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s can be seen. On 29 January 1947 he performed in a Trio Recital at the London Trinity College of Music; on 9 December 1949 “Gordon Fox and His Orchestra” performed at the Cabaret Tea special Christmas Fund for the Not Forgotten Association at the Dorchester Hotel; on 30 October 1950 Gordon was given a stage door pass to the Royal Command Performance at the Empire Theatre, Leicester Square [he was probably performing there but in what capacity is not known].

In 1952 Gordon purchased a Giuseppe Rocca Violin, dating from 1853. It cost him £330, which at the time could easily have bought a semi-detached house in Somercotes. He would treasure this instrument, which he kept for the rest of his life. His musical career continued.

In 1953 he played the Empress Theatre, Brixton – performing in a troupe known as “The Wondertones”,  billed as the “Musical Sensation of the Century”, and on 7 September 1954 he received a letter from the Sadler’s Well’s Theatre regarding his engagement with the Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet Orchestra as 1st Viola at a substantial salary of £14 per week.

It was the retirement of his father, John, in 1956 that led Gordon back to Somercotes and the hardware shop on Nottingham Road that the family had owned for many years. He settled with his family in Somercotes, but kept his membership of the Musician’s Union, performing at selected concerts and for local events. He also taught violin for many years.

His wife Agnes played the piano, and often the two would play to themselves in the house, Gordon using his beloved Giuseppe Rocca Violin [which, apparently, he would let no one else touch!].

The shop flourished throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s. It sold timber, nails and screws, saucepans and lightbulbs, spades and hammers; everything a hardware shop should. It was located in the heart of the community and Gordon was well-known throughout the village. The rise of the DIY superstore, particularly the opening of the B&Q store further along Nottingham Road, would eventually have consequences for the small local shop, and business suffered. As Gordon reached retirement the shop premises were managed by John Straw, a long-time assistant to Gordon, who kept the business running through the 1980s as Regent Hardware.

Gordon continued playing the violin until illness in the last fifteen years of his life prevented him from doing so. To have to give up his music must have been a bitter blow. Gordon died at the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary on 9 March 1993 at the age of 83 years. He was without doubt the most gifted musician that the village of Somercotes has ever produced.

It was at Gordon’s request that his Giuseppe Rocca Violin, Bow and Case be auctioned after his death, and the money raised to be used for his grandchildren’s education. On 2 November 1993, the violin was auctioned at Sotherby’s in London. It raised £82,900. The Yorkshire post recorded the sale in an article published the same month, part of which is transcribed: “Musician Gordon Fox wanted the best education money could buy for his two great-grandsons. But it was only after his death that his ambition was realised when his Giuseppe Rocca violin fetched £82,900 at a Sotherby’s sale… Mr Fox, who died aged 83 last March, was taught to play the violin by the Czech virtuoso Sevsik. He performed regularly until he was 46, when he took over his father’s hardware shop in Somercotes, Derby. Catherine Saker, of Sotherby’s musical instruments department said ‘We are delighted to have been able to find a new home for this wonderful instrument and to have helped in such a good cause at the same time.’”