Sir Neville Marriner died on 2 October 2016, aged 92. The English violinist and conductor had founded the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. He remained associated with the orchestra for more than half a century.

Born in Lincoln in 1924, Marriner studied at the Royal College of Music and the Paris Conservatoire. He began his professional career as a violinist and joined the London Symphony Orchestra as principal second violin in 1954.

In 1958, Marriner formed the Academy of St Martin in the Fields from a group of leading London musicians. They initially rehearsed informally and gave their first performance at St Martin-in-the-Fields in London in 1959.

Recording became an important part of the Academy’s work. The ensemble developed a large catalogue, particularly in Baroque and Classical repertoire. At the same time, Marriner moved from directing from the violin to conducting. The orchestra expanded its repertoire and toured internationally.

Marriner conducted many other orchestras, but his longest association remained with the Academy. He served as its music director until 2011, when violinist Joshua Bell succeeded him, and Marriner became life president.

He was knighted in 1985 and appointed a Companion of Honour in 2015. He continued conducting into his nineties. By the time of his death, his partnership with the Academy had produced one of the largest bodies of recorded work associated with a conductor and orchestra.