A blue plaque in memory of one of the world’s most respected composers, who lived in Deal, has been placed on his former home in Claremont Road in what would have been his 100th year.

The plaque is dedicated to Harold Truscott, who died age 78, in 1992.

Mr Truscott lived in the house in Deal from 1954 to 1992, with his wife Eleanor Margaret, son Richard and two daughters, Hilary and Veronica.

He taught at Sandwich Central School from 1954 to 1956, before becoming a professor in Music at Huddersfield Polytechnic College, now Huddersfield University, where an annual Harold Truscott Prize for postgraduate studies has been established in his memory.

"He was a phenomenal music teacher as well as a world class composer and I feel very privileged to have been taught by him" - Harold Prescott on his former teacher

Harold Prescott, 73, of Walmer Way, Deal, has championed the blue plaque in honour of his former teacher. He said: “I wanted to do this last little thing for my music master. He was a phenomenal music teacher as well as a world class composer and I feel very privileged to have been taught by him. I think I’m one of the luckiest people to not have passed my 11-plus. If I had, I’d have gone to Sir Roger Manwood’s, where I wanted to go, but I would have never met him.”

He added: “He got me a scholarship to the Royal Marines School of Music. I would not have had a musical education without him. To my dying day, I will be grateful to the man.”

Mr Truscott, also a pianist, performed many broadcast recitals for the BBC, and some of his own compositions were broadcast by notable artists. For more than 50 years he produced a stream of original and powerful compositions that inspired admiration among his fans.

Alan Clarke, chairman of the Deal Society, helped organise the event, inviting Mr Truscott’s family, including his grandchildren Helen and William Renny to attend.

Mr Prescott said: “It was a very moving experience. I was particularly interested to see his house where he had composed his music, written his books and prepared his radio broadcasts.”