Born in Doncaster, Arnold Williams moved to Southampton in 1928 as musical director and organist at the Central Hall. Over the years he had an influence on the musical life of the town—an influence which showed itself in many ways and which was responsible for many outstanding events.

He had not long been in Southampton when he brought together people from churches and chapels of the town who shared his love of music, and they sang Haydn's "Creation" in their first year. That company was the nucleus of the Southampton Musical Society. They went into competition and won musical festival shields in Portsmouth, Bournemouth and London.

From then on the Society progressed, and in time presented a dramatised production of "Hiawatha" at the Central Hall. They were the first provincial society in England to produce "Hiawatha", and later decided to put on "Elijah". This proved such a success that it was taken to the Royal Albert Hall.

Shortly after he came to the town, the Southampton Male Voice Choir was formed and also went into competition lead by Williams. 

After 1930, he ceased to be conductor of the Musical Society, and formed another choir, the Southampton Singers, from a nucleus of the Society. During the war, he moved to Bournemouth, but retained his connection with Southampton musical circles and remained conductor of the Singers.

He taught at Taunton's School, Brockenhurst County High School and Somerford. He was a noted composer, and wrote a great deal of music for schools, as well as for the Southampton Singers.