Born in Huthwaite we moved to Mansfield when I was 5. My older sister had dancing lessons and I had piano lessons from the age of 13. Choirs and singing became important aspects of these formative years. Dad worked at Rufford Pit working a three-shift pattern up to the age of 60. His desire was that I would never go to work in a coal mine. He worked hard and devoted his life to improving the life chances of his family. Mum was equally devoted Anne and I and worked part-time in the hosiery industry – she had a small hook type of tool which she used to pick up the fine stiches to repair ladders in nylon stockings. When I was small, she did this work at home, and I remember large bags full of stockings for repair. This was piece work, and she was paid a small amount for each dozen nylons fixed.

At High Oakham School, the same school attended by most of my aunts and uncles, I enjoyed singing in the choir and most music lessons comprised of singing from “The New National Song Book”. Every school day began with an assembly complete with 2 hymns, prayers and a bible reading, sometimes rounded off with a public caning. I was often on the receiving end of corporal punishment although did manage to avoid the public floggings. My singing voice came to the attention of Miss Weddle, head teacher, and she recruited me into the choir at St Peters’ Church. The church had a professional organist and choir master, Malcolm Cousins. Malcolm was my hero and his musicianship and attention to commitment and detail provided an excellent environment for my development. He became my piano and organ teacher and my vocal ability resulted in being selected to sing in a choir at the Anglican Congress held in Toronto 1963. The choir was about 30 strong and we sang in the Maple Leaf Gardens, a huge ice hockey arena venue. We assembled at the Victoria Air Terminal in London and flew from Heathrow. Dad took me to London by steam train and the aircraft was a BOAC Britannia, propeller driven. We spent three weeks singing in St James’ Cathedral and touring round Ontario giving concerts to packed venues. Shortly after this tour my voice broke, and the resulting adult voice was lacking in quality of that shining treble chorister.

I was ready to leave school aged 15 and secured employment as an apprentice textile engineer. With some excitement I went to my next piano lesson to share my good news with Malcolm Cousins. His response was to say, “That sounds dull. Why not do something with your music?” Until that point it had never entered my head. An apprenticeship was the best a pupil from a Secondary Modern School could achieve. So, the job was declined, and the Sherwood Hall Technical Grammar School for Boys offered me a place. Grammar School was a struggle but with a few O levels under my belt I gained a place at Bretton Hall College of Education, Wakefield. During school days I met Ann, the love of my life, and we had become an item long before the departure to college.

Bretton was a fantastically creative place and the education received was the finest. Most weekends saw me back at home to be with Ann, get the washing done by that devoted mum, and the wallet topped up by that brilliant dad. The journey from college to Mansfield was greatly improved when the M1 motorway reached north.

The first job was at the Valley Comprehensive School, September 1970, as a music teacher. At this time comprehensive education was the new style of secondary education. Gone were the old grammar and secondary modern schools and Valley School heralded the new era with extensive new builder incorporating a sports centre complete with swimming pool. The music block was a new building.