Holst Statue, Imperial Gardens

The Cheltenham Civic Society raised money to erect a statue of the town’s most famous son, installed in 2008. The sculptor was Anthony Stones and it was cast at Pangolin Editions in Chalford, Stroud. The statue was unveiled by renowned conductor Sir Mark Elder.

You will notice that the statue shows Holst wielding his baton in his left hand, even though he was right-handed. From an early age Gustav suffered pain from neuritis in his right hand and arm, so he solved the problem by conducting left-handed.