Sunday 18 November 2012
So, where did it all start?
Having moved from London to the Isle of Wight when I was 11, I joined the new throng that entered the Comprehensive schooling system. New town, new school, new education system. Hmm.
There was quite a difference between the primary school that I was used to in London and the middle school of Bembridge. For the first year I was there, we only had a single years worth of children, about 60 or so in total. It was a brand new school and was all very relaxed. We had a progressive headmaster that encouraged children to follow their artistic and sporting pastimes and introduced us all to the exciting option of Thursday afternoon 'clubs'. We all got the opportunity to further our crafts and hobbies, or try new ones. So I started Sailing, something I was to go on and do for the next thirty years and learn to play the Guitar!
I had a lovely teacher called Ron Cahill, who played in local folk clubs and he was to be my inspiration. First thing to do was buy a guitar. I had £10, and one Saturday took the bus to Newport (Teagues, the Island's music shop). They had several nylon string guitars, starting at about £8 and going upwards from there. I was advised to try a £13 guitar. Slight problem, I couldn't play one. So I relied on the salesman to let me hear it. I got to know that assistant (can't recall his name now) really well over the years and he gave me lots of advice on buying guitars and types of strings to suit my playing style, but more of that later. £3 was borrowed from my mother and I went home with a new guitar and a tutor book. A guitar case would have to wait, along with spare strings. I was 11. It was the start of a passion for playing music that has continued all my life.
There was quite a difference between the primary school that I was used to in London and the middle school of Bembridge. For the first year I was there, we only had a single years worth of children, about 60 or so in total. It was a brand new school and was all very relaxed. We had a progressive headmaster that encouraged children to follow their artistic and sporting pastimes and introduced us all to the exciting option of Thursday afternoon 'clubs'. We all got the opportunity to further our crafts and hobbies, or try new ones. So I started Sailing, something I was to go on and do for the next thirty years and learn to play the Guitar!
I had a lovely teacher called Ron Cahill, who played in local folk clubs and he was to be my inspiration. First thing to do was buy a guitar. I had £10, and one Saturday took the bus to Newport (Teagues, the Island's music shop). They had several nylon string guitars, starting at about £8 and going upwards from there. I was advised to try a £13 guitar. Slight problem, I couldn't play one. So I relied on the salesman to let me hear it. I got to know that assistant (can't recall his name now) really well over the years and he gave me lots of advice on buying guitars and types of strings to suit my playing style, but more of that later. £3 was borrowed from my mother and I went home with a new guitar and a tutor book. A guitar case would have to wait, along with spare strings. I was 11. It was the start of a passion for playing music that has continued all my life.
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