A. (Arnold) Safroni-Middleton

George Arnold Haynes Safroni-Middleton (3 September 1873 – 7 November 1950), also known as Count Safroni, was a British composer, violinist, harpist, conductor, writer, and amateur astronomer. Born in Kent, he studied violin with Pablo de Sarasate and went on to perform widely, with musical work taking him through places including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.

His writing grew out of that wandering life. He published novels, poems, travel books, and memoirs, often drawing on his experiences at sea and in places such as Borneo, Papua New Guinea, and Malaysia. Several of his books reflect the voice of a performer-adventurer who was always moving between stages, ships, and distant ports.

As a composer, he is most strongly associated with marches and light orchestral music. His best-known piece, Imperial Echoes (published in 1913), was later adapted as a march and became famous as the theme for the BBC's Radio Newsreel. He also wrote under the pseudonym William H. Myddleton.