sargent received many honours. he was knighted in 1947 and received the royal philharmonic society gold medal in 1959. his nickname was “flash harry” because he always dressed and behaved in a flashy style. he was often known as “britain’s ambassador of music”, because he often toured all over the world with his orchestras, conducting british music, especially the works of elgar, vaughan williams, holst and walton. if the professional musicians he worked with did not always like him, his audiences loved him and he was especially fond of the promenaders. at his memorial service in westminster abbey the whole of the nave was reserved for promenade season ticket holders