Sir Malcolm Arnold died in Norwich on 23 September 2006, aged 84. His career had taken him from the trumpet section of the London Philharmonic Orchestra to orchestral, concert and film composition.

Born in Northampton in 1921, Arnold studied at the Royal College of Music before joining the London Philharmonic Orchestra as a trumpeter in 1941. He later became its principal trumpeter, but by the end of the 1940s had turned his attention to composition.

Arnold wrote across a wide range of forms. His concert works included nine symphonies, more than 20 concertos and music for brass and wind bands. He also wrote scores for more than 100 films.

His best-known film work was the score for David Lean’s The Bridge on the River Kwai, which earned Arnold the Academy Award for Best Original Score in 1958. He was knighted for services to music in 1993.

Arnold died in hospital after suffering a chest infection. On the same day, The Three Musketeers, a Northern Ballet production set to music from his works, premiered at the Alhambra in Bradford. The performance was dedicated to his memory.