Adeney, Richard

Richard Adeney was one of Britain's most distinguished flutists, renowned for his refined tone and extensive career as a principal orchestral player and chamber musician.
He was inspired to take up the flute at age 14 after hearing a recording of Marcel Moyse. He studied at the Royal College of Music (RCM) under Robert Murchie.
He served two separate terms as principal flute of the London Philharmonic Orchestra (1941–1950 and 1961–1970). He was also the principal flutist of the English Chamber Orchestra (ECO) and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He was a close friend of composer Malcolm Arnold, who wrote a sonatina and two flute concertos for him.
Adeney retired in 1990 at age 70. Upon retiring, he famously sold all his flutes to ensure he would not be tempted to play as an "incompetent amateur". In 2009, he published his autobiography, Flute, which was noted for its candid and occasionally scandalous accounts of the classical music world.