WILLIAM Boughton will remain artistic director and conductor of the English Symphony Orchestra, despite a move away from Malvern.

Mr Boughton and his family are moving to the High Wycombe area later this year.

His wife, Janet Masters, the ESO's co-leader, has accepted the post of head of strings at Wycombe Abbey, one of the country's top girls' schools.

"It's going to be a huge wrench," said Mr Boughton. "Malvern is our home and leaving it is going to be a massive change to have to cope with. My heart will always be in this area"

Mr Broughton said uncertainty over the merger of Malvern Girls' College and St James's School, at both of which his wife teaches, was a contributing factor in her decision to accept the Wycombe Abbey post. But, he added: "Opportunities like that don't come up every day."

Mr Boughton said he would remain involved as ever with the ESO, which he founded in 1980. He said: "Fortunately, we live in a small country and it's only one-and-three-quarter hours' drive away."