After education at Leigh Grammar School , he studied at the University of Manchester and at the Royal Manchester College of Music ( now part of the Royal Northern College of Music ) . He met other students there who became famous musicians : Harrison Birtwistle , Alexander Goehr , Elgar Howarth and John Ogdon . After education at Leigh Boys Grammar School , Davies studied at the University of Manchester and at the Royal Manchester College of Music ( amalgamated into the Royal Northern College of Music in 1973 ) , where his fellow students included Harrison Birtwistle , Alexander Goehr , Elgar Howarth and John Ogdon .