Given an old piano
When I was ten or eleven years old, I developed an interest in classical music. I asked my mother if I could have piano lessons; she agreed and I was soon being taught by Madame Rose Dudeney, at her house in Florence Road. At the time I was intrigued by why my piano teacher was called ‘Madame Rose’. Luckily enough, a friend of my mother gave us an old, upright piano; I can still remember how fascinated I was to watch a blind piano tuner at work.
Competition classes
I learned fairly quickly and Madame Rose enrolled me in competition classes for the Brighton Music Festival. On the stage of The Dome, I played Beethoven’s Fur Elise, unfortunately to no great reception. But in the Music Room at the Royal Pavilion, I did much better. I played a piece by Grieg and won the class. I do remember that it was a magical moment in a magical place.
Syncopating the hymns
The headmaster at Fawcett School learned that I had won this prize, and so I was asked, to play the winning piece for the school assembly. This was very flattering and I quite enjoyed it. After that, I was asked to join the teacher who played the piano for the assembly, to play the various hymns, with him, at subsequent assemblies. At that time I was also teaching myself blues piano; the hymn playing did not go well as I tended to syncopate the hymns. Unfortunately, family circumstances changed and my mother could no longer afford to book me for more lessons with Madame Rose. I continued to work on my blues and jazz music and still do, more than 50 years later.
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When I was about 5, my Dad bought me an old Chapel upright piano. This had two brass candlesticks mounted on a fretwork front panel with a piece of red material behind it – very Victorian! Dad made a new front panel and the candlesticks vanished. I was bought an Ezra Read Tutor and lessons were arranged with a gentleman from Preston Village (no names, no pack drill). He did not last long and I was enrolled to have weekly lessons with a Miss Pinder who lived on one of the old cottages at the North end of Greenfield Road and adjoining Braybon Avenue in Patcham. Does anyone recall this very Victorian lady who illustrated my tutor book with elves and faeries climbing up the treble and bass staves? Happy days.
Following on from my comment above, I joined patcham Silver Band who rehearsed in Mackie Hall, Patcham. My dad played in this Band on G (bass) Trombone, I began on the Bb Baritone. I stayed with the band until 1954 when I went away to Surrey to start an apprenticeship. While in “digs” in Addlestone Surrey, I joined the Weymanns Works band who were fairly top notch. After my apprenticeship, I was “called up” for National Service and Joined the RAF initially as an electrical mechanic (air). My “squarebashing” camp was Bridgenorth and there I joined the”Voluntary Band” comprised of any recruit who could play a brass or woodwind instrument. I joined on Baritone, but had Bronchitis and had some home leave. On my return , a new recruit had taken over my instrument and all that was left was an old BBb Bass (tuba). I was posted to Melksham, Wilts for my trade training and Joined the Voluntary band there. I applied for an audition in the RAF Music Services and later that year (1961) I remustered (changed trades) and joined the RAF School of Music at RAF Uxbridge. After 6 months , I was posted to an RAF Regional Band at Henlow in Beds to complete my 5 years, during which I learned the string (double) Bass.
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