A Wallasey lad brought up living in Tudor Avenue, adjacent to the Mersey.

A latchkey kid, our back door was never locked. Directly behind our house was Leemo”s field a playground real, for football, cricket, kick the can and hide and seek. Air raid shelters, some of which were accessible. Our Seacombe street ran down to the Mersey river shore/bank. At that time, a street with no cars to be parked, no one owned one, very few dogs barked. The scraggy cats rule our walls. Milk carts and coal Lorrie’s regularly visited. As did the rent, insurance, money lender, collectors and meter readers. Occasionally a rag and bone man with goldfish for me jam jar. First home from school, and as a rule, I set and lit the fire. An outside loo, hot water via the fire. A shared night time guzunda in the bedroom hallway corner.( only an outside loo) Midweek meals mainly cheese n beans on toast, sometimes Scouse or mince, but always a Sunday roast.

Those early days were shared with my mum, sister and uncle Ronnie, Dad was in the war. The marriage broke down, so I only saw him every couple of years thereafter. I remember him buying my very first bike for my eleventh birthday, second hand of course. I certainly was made up to have a bike. Dad and I rekindled some friendship when I was 40, and discovered a new half sister Pauline with a funny Yorkshire accent. Ronnie was a carpenter, sis n mum worked in Littlewoods Pools. We walked to school with mates and neighbours, for Secondary school, usually caught the bus. I left Wallasey Technical School with Maths, Art and Surveying.

At 16 years I trained as a Lab assistant in the Met Lab of Liverpool University. 5 years of ferrying across the Mersey in calm and stormy weather. Whilst one day and night, for 5 years I gained an HNC in the field of Metallurgy. I married at far too young, it didn’t last and we parted within 10 years. My son and wife created another life. I replaced them with work, table tennis, football and folk music. The 60” were a blur. From The Beatles to folk, a life in store, no one could predict. I left the University job for a post in the Metallurgical laboratory of Manganese Bronze, ships propellor manufacturers, Dock Road Wallasey, continuing my HNC course at Connah’s Quay. After a year I applied for and got a lab job at The Ford motor company Halewood Liverpool. Just lasted there a year, then, aged 23, Vauxhalls had beckoned me and were my employers for 18 years.

I played football for, and attended “The Penny Farthing Folk Club”in Great Sutton. I rapidly expanded my repertoire of folk, country, and pop, mainly singalong music. A guy called Norman Astles came to work in the same Lab as me about 1966. He was a semi pro singer and had a prominent influence on the direction my choice of music was aimed. Predominantly sixties, folk, country, and old singalong standards.  The Spinners and Jaqui and Bridie were probably the local entertainers having the biggest influence on my musical direction in the 70’s and 80’s.

The Houghton Weaver’s were also one of my favourite entertainers.

Tom Paxton, John Denver and the Beatles all edged their way into my life and repertoire. I advertised and formed a trio called Kinfolk with Frank and Glennis Welcome in, or about the year 1970, and for 25 years we sang to please, becoming a Cheshire favourite. We entertained at local folk clubs, PTAs, Ladies circles etc.

We ran folk nights and spent many years as residents at “The Good Intent”, a pub by The “Mollington Banastre Hotel.” I was a sole Sunday resident singer for 15 years. For a number of those years, my mate Eddie Morris latterly shared the residency too, alternating Sunday nights. Many local singers shared those nights, a raffle paid for some local and not too far, semi professional guests. Headmaster Les Jones from Widnes, was a favourite on our folk scene. Brownsville Banned were a very unconventional favourite. As Kinfolk, we chose to entertain at the Good Intent on Wednesdays.

The early 80’s a momentous life change, a new wife and kids.

Janice Williams came into my life via the Good Intent. I was smitten and within a year decided to get married again, inheriting two lovely boys, a dog and a rabbit. Our lovely daughter Kate joined us on our walk of life in 1982. In 1982 Germanic singing fame, when Kinfolk were voted first by an audience of about 1000, and second by a panel of 20 international judges  at The Menchun und Meer music festival in East Germany. Later that year, Vauxhall voluntary redundancy paved my way for a radical life change. I sold my Great Sutton home and bought an old 1892 3 story semi with basement, by the Park in the town of Birkenhead. Some BnB, some residential care and a House of multiple occupancy. We took our elderly residents on holiday to Llandudno.

For 25 years we worked and raised our family.

Newly acquired DIY skills,with the assistance of Bert and big John, Loft and basement changes and restorations helped to form our huge family home. We even bought next door. Over a couple of years, we ended up with 29 bedrooms. Art days and folk nights in the basement. Lots of new friends, and very few foes. Kinfolk disbanded about 1990.  I always performed as a soloist whilst being a founder member the group.  Due to my love of popular Irish singalong songs, I gained popularity in the local Irish themed pubs.  We sold up and retired about 2005 and moved just round the corner to Park Road West.

Life was just a blast, where I continued singing and Jan kept on painting with her own Art class in our new conservatory. A few folk nights in our conservatory saw the likes of Jaqui McDonald, Norman Castle and The composer of the song “Inch by inch(Dave Mallet ) as invited guests. Now we live alone, we’re old and grey, but I have to say, we’ve had a life of love and care. And plan to keep it going until our very last breath. Or as long as we dare.

Oh, I forgot to say, I also did and still, play table tennis too. Also an avid armchair Liverpool F.C. supporter.

I frequently entertain at Residential and Care homes where my vast repertoire of singalong songs is very much appreciated. I’m still very much involved with raising funds for Alzheimer’s and Cancer Research Uk mainly through Charity Concerts. John Denver’s music is a firm favourite here. For the last 15 years Jan and myself have organised Art/Music holidays in Llandudno. Twice a year we take up to 50 friends and fellow Art/Music fans for 5 night breaks.

Now a lovely community of mature  friends.

BnJ xxxx