Vocalist Paul is a well-known "face' on the local music scene and out and about most nights, trawling the clubs and pubs of the North West to listen to and 'guest' with local groups and musicians. He has become firm friends with many who value his support and enthusiasm.

Paul, 66, is a widower. He lost Valerie, his wife of almost 40 years, in 1997 after a long and brave battle against cancer. He lives alone in a fashionable part of Harwood, enjoying benefits accrued during a lifetime's work in sales when he had long spells with industrial giants Shell Chemicals and the American company Chemitrade. But a look at his personal history will reveal a man who has fought against the odds.

Born in the Northenden district of Manchester, Paul's early education came at Rack house Junior School. But when he was nine, a freak accident changed the course of his life. While playing with his schoolmates, he fell off a gate and injured his left leg. His kneecap was badly bruised and after several months of little or no improvement he was taken into Booth Hall Hospital where tuberculosis of the bone was diagnosed.

After six months he was switched to the Abergele Sanatorium in North Wales, where he was fated to stay for seven long years. "TB was a far more serious illness in this days," Paul explained. "Part of the treatment included lots of rest and fresh air as well as whatever medication they had available.

"But there were teachers in residence and youngsters like me were able to continue our education. In fact, I won a scholarship to Chorlton High School while I was in there but couldn't take advantage of it as I was 16 by the time I came out."

Eighteen months before Paul finally left the sanatorium, surgeons took the decision to remove his knee cap and fuse the remaining bones in his leg. He had to learn to walk again and was left with a permanent limp but was determined to live life to the full. "A lot of people died from TB so I figured I owed it to myself and the people who looked after me all the years to make something of my life."

Back with his pals, Paul worked hard and played hard. He got a job in a warehouse and spent his leisure time in the Manchester pubs and clubs, virtually all of which had 'live' entertainment. One of their favourite haunts was the Plaza on Oxford Street, managed by 'wild man' Jimmy Saville and featuring a truly great combo of that day led by drummer Ray Ellington and fronted by singer Marion Ryan, who died recently.

One of the band's spots included audience participation. Paul, who by then had started singing a couple of numbers in pubs and clubs, encouraged by his mates, was a volunteer one week-end and so impressed Ray Ellington that he was invited to become a 'regular' on the Sunday guest list. He was on his way.

Besides singing in clubs and pubs, Paul did a lot of charity work for the Booth Hall League Of Friends, trying, in his words, to repay the hospital for the treatment and care he had received during the early months of his illness. One fundraising concert was staged at the Northern Sporting Club and when an artiste failed to turn up, Paul stepped in.

By chance in the audience that evening was Syd Elgar, who owned a number of clubs in Manchester. He very much liked what he heard and offered Paul a job on the spot. After discussing the proposal with Valerie, whom he had recently married, he took the job and spent the next 14 years as resident compere at a number of Manchester nightspots, including the Southern Sporting Club, Domino Club and Offerton Palace.

From 1971 until 1980 he was back on the club scene as a solo artiste, doing what he loves best - singing. But the decline of the cabaret clubs, which began in the late 1970s and became an irreversible collapse in the early 1980s, persuaded Paul to reluctantly pick up his music and walk away.

He was still working at his 'proper job' and he and Valerie, and their four children, lived in Brandlesholme, Bury. In 1992, after he and Valerie had returned from a holiday in Australia to visit relatives, they were given the dreaded news that she had breast cancer. Paul took early retirement to care for his wife and they moved from Bury to his present home, a bungalow, when it became too difficult for Valerie to climb stairs. She died in April,1997.

In November that year, encouraged by his children, Paul took a holiday in the Isle of Wight, where he stayed with friends. They took him to a club where there was 'live' entertainment and, responding to the urging of his pals who had known him during his clubland career, Paul got up to sing.

"The audience really liked what I did and I must admit, I hadn't realised how much I had missed singing. I thought, I'll dig out some music when I get home and look for gigs."

The chance was not long coming. Shortly afterwards, on holiday in Benidorm, Paul met an old pal called Mike Shaun, for many years a familiar figure on the northern jazz scene, who was living and working in the Spanish holiday resort at a jazz bar called Champions. On the second night of his vacation, Paul was asked to stand in as resident host when Mike went down with tonsilitis and spent the next nine nights doing the job.

"Well, I was really back on the scene after that," he recalls. "I started to get out and about again and am very much enjoying being with all my mates from the old days, making new friends and singing the odd tune here and there. There's rarely a dull moment in my life now and I owe much of it to my kids, who have been very supportive since Valerie died."

Besides his involvement with the local jazz scene, Paul is an enthusiastic fan of Bury FC and a season ticket holder at Gigg Lane. He recently bought a trombone and is being taught by highly-rated local musician Chris Thorp.

"I was knocked out by Roy Williams's playing when he appeared with Tommy Whittle at Derby Ward Labour Club last December and decided to have a go. I'll never be a Roy Williams but I'll get there. Who knows, I might yet make it into Jeriatric Jazz. I'm certainly old - and daft - enough.

No comment!

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.