DEATH OF KEVIN HOLLAND

Long-time supporter of orchestral music dies at his home at the age of 76.

Kevin Holland, a familiar figure on the classical music scene, died quietly and peacefully at his home yesterday morning (May 7) at the age of 76 after a period of ill-health.

He leaves behind his marriage partner Ronald Boom, a violinist in the Durban City Orchestra. The couple were the first in Durban to have their union recognised when gay marriages became legal some five years ago.

Kevin Edward Holland was born in Eshowe in 1934 and was educated at St Aidan's College in Grahamstown; at the then University of Natal, and at the University of Oxford. He lectured in philosophy at the University of Natal before he received a scholarship to study at Worcester College at Oxford University from 1958 to 1960.

He returned to then Natal to lecture in terms of the condition of the scholarship but within a few months, was invited back to the UK by South Africa House as part of the Celebration of 50 Years of Union in South Africa. He was also invited to continue his lecture work in the UK. However, once in London, the celebration coincided with the Sharpeville massacre and he decided that he did not wish to be part of the celebration and handed in his South African passport.

He went on to become Head of Information, Reader's Digest, UK, eventually moving to a higher position of responsibility which covered pan-European relations with the European Commission and the European Parliament, as well as relations with the British Parliament and Whitehall.

His passion for orchestral music grew out of Reader’s Digest’s support of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and, in 1963, he was instrumental in the rescue of the orchestra. He also served as a trustee on the RPO’s Trust until a couple of years ago.

On his return to South Africa in the late 1990’s, he served as a board member of the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra from 1998 to 2002.

“We appreciate his contribution to the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic,” says Bongani Tembe, CEO and Artistic Director of the KZNPO. “He was always available to assist in many other ways and had a passion for music and orchestras, in particular.”

Articulate, outspoken and highly principled, Kevin Holland was not afraid of voicing his opinion and in his CV describes himself as an “inveterate letter writer to press on human rights, factual accuracy, sexuality and personalities.”

The cremation will take place privately.