Charles Nalden CBE (1908-2002) was born John Leslie Simpson. He was renamed when he was taken to the London Foundling Hospital at the age of 29 days. When he was 14 he went into the British Army, becoming the bandmaster.

After 25 years in the army, Charles Nalden arrived in Auckland, New Zealand and became an academic at the University of Auckland. He became a professor in 1956, and professor emeritus on his retirement in 1974. Charles Nalden was also a conductor and writer about music. In addition to his memoir (1989), Charles Nalden wrote Fugal Answer (1970) and a history of the conservatorium of music at the University of Auckland (1981) and numerous articles. In the 1976 Birthday Honours, Nalden was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to music.