The Great Eastern Musical society was created in 1908, William Johnson Galloway largely being given credit for the formation of this society with its choir and orchestra drawn entirely from rail staff.

Concerts were given periodically in the Hamilton Hall of the Liverpool Street Hotel. These concerts often being described as ‘Bohemian’ due to their informality in arrangement, with audiences grouped in friendly fashion around tables at which refreshments were served between the items. The wife of the director or chief officer, armed with a mallet would act as ‘M.C.’ and often even Galloway would perform as conductor.

Performances of the society were not just limited to Hamilton Hall, often they would travel to places of distinction such as Queen’s Hall and in cities as far as York and Edinburgh. Renowned conductors even lent their service to the society, such as Air Henry J. Wood, Sir Alexander Mackenzie and Sir Landon Ronald.

In 1923 Great Eastern Railway was grouped with other railways to form the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER). The society’s name changed to the London & North Eastern Musical Society in 1924.