So, trying to go in disguise are we?!!!! Sorry for going off piste mods, but that was too good to pass by!
Slightly later than the birth of Mr. Churcher, at the start of the 20th century, my father and his siblings were born to a poor family whose father was a worker in the boot and shoe industry. The two oldest sons grew up and became police constables, never rising above that rank. Their sister worked in the Post Office and my father worked firstly in a printers, before going to war then starting his own business after demob. The oldest son was a good singer and an avid admirer of classical music. The younger policeman, his brother, taught violin, started a police orchestra and played background music in local cinemas to silent movies with their sister who in addition to selling stamps taught piano. In fact she taught my wife before I knew her. My father played the piano and the clarinet and with his older brother occasionally played in the BBC Midlands Light Orchestra (no longer in being) as amateurs. The family enjoyed playing and singing together at home but as far as I can ascertain neither my grandfather nor my grandmother played an instrument or had any musical training. It seems that music was very important in those days when there were no TV's, radios or other electronic forms of entertainment and happily it was an enjoyment and an accomplishment that sat alongside the day jobs even in fairly poor families. I marvel that the cost of lessons could be found and that it was obviously willingly found for 4 children.
