The Gustav Holst Memorial Fountain Statue

The Gustav Holst Memorial Fountain statue was unveiled on 4 April 2008. The statue's sculptor, Anthony Stones, also cast the seven plaques incorporated in the octagonal plinth, which depict the planets after Holst's best-known work.

Observant onlookers will notice that the composer is holding his baton in his left hand. He often had to conduct this way as he suffered severe neuritis in his right hand.

Gustav Holst was born at 4 Clarence Road, Cheltenham in 1874. Today this is The Holst Victorian House which is open to the public. Visit their website here.

Both Gustav and his father Adolph von Holst, gave recitals at the Winter Gardens, previously on this site - see Point of Interest 6.

To find out more about the Holst family and their many connections with Cheltenham see the "Holst's Cheltenham" PocketSights walking tour.