Sir John Barbirolli

This bust is outside the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, home of the Halle Orchestra. Sir John saved the orchestra from being disbanded in 1943.
He was born to an Italian father and French mother, but considered himself a Cockney as he was born within the sound of Bow Bells in London.
He escaped death in 1943 when flying over from America. He changed flights with the actor, Leslie Howard, who wanted to postpone his fight by a few days. Howard's plane was shot down by enemy aircraft in the Bay of Biscay.