Ernest Tomlinson (born September 19, 1924) is an English composer, particularly noted for his Light music compositions. He is sometimes credited as Alan Perry. Ernest Tomlinson was born in 1924 in Rawtenstall, Lancashire into a musical family. Aged nine he became a chorister at Manchester Cathedral, where he was eventually appointed as Head Boy in 1939. He later attended Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar Schools and at sixteen won a scholarship to Manchester University and the Royal Manchester College of Music.