Casterton Church

Apologies for an apparently morbid photo, today. Actually, it's quite the reverse.

All my big girls - the twentieth century babies - were taught piano by Mrs Charlton. Every year she'd have a concert here at the church, in which all of her pupils performed, regardless of their ability.

Given that she was a good piano teacher (and a nice lady) the programme was often quite long and one would have to sit through a lot of pupils' piano playing - of varying ability - to hear one's own children. Sometimes the concerts seemed to last a very long time.

But my memories of those occasions are happy ones and I think it's great that the students acquired the habit in playing in front of an audience while they were young and before they became too self-conscious. And, actually, there were some great moments: little Will Gillibrand playing a piece brilliantly yet with mischief and wit; my friend Ged's daughter Edie playing so beautifully.

Mrs Charlton has retired now and I haven't been over this way for a while but today Dan went to play with a friend who lives right by the church, so I stopped and had a moment by the gate before heading back home.