Author: Francis Shaw

My parents sent me to Winbury from the Burnham Junior school, which I hated, in the Spring of 1952, age 9. My chief memories are generally pleasant, enjoying the sports, Scouts and art there.

I read in my reports that I was 'a useful member of the choir', but remember being number two to Robert (?) Hammersley to sing the solo at a Christmas carol service. I was very upset at the time.

Tapioca pudding I loathe - and refused to eat it at one school lunch, remaining seated as a punishment until school ended that day, the congealing pudding however stayed intact!

Trips to away cricket matches in John Spicer's Lagonda - 11 boys + gear in the open car were both exhilarating, risky and a lot of fun. Looking back I think that Lagonda first fired up my love of vintage cars, at present two 1920s Austin Sevens and a 1936 FIAT saloon - my Mafia car! Richard Ratcliffe and Roger Warburton were my chief friends at Winbury. I recently met Roger again after 50 years or so, which was a delight. Richard I've lost contact with now, despite a wonderful trip to Norway with him in his new 'hotted up' Ford when I was 21 years old.

Scouting was a big part of my boyhood at Winbury, camping trips in (I think) Windsor Great Park were a good training in self-sufficiency, cooking over an open fire in the rain. Somewhere I have a photo of Peter Perry and me in Scout uniform (if I find it, I'll send it to you).

My school days at Winbury and after were not marked by any excellence at all. I failed the 11+ and Common Entrance exams. A succession of short stay schools and private tutors didn't improve my capacity much. Common remarks in my reports were ' does the absolute minimum required'.

It was only music that really interested me, and as a chorister in Windsor, and learning the organ and piano there under sympathetic guidance led me to follow that path. Later when I was a music student at the London College of Music, John Spicer, who I'd kept in touch with, asked me to teach him the piano. This was quite a strange experience for an 18 year old, teaching my former Headmaster, but he did make progress, and John I remember was very gracious and serious about it all, although he had very little aptitude for music making.

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My life after music college has always been a juggling act of teaching for money, and practising music as a composer, pianist and conductor. Returning from Italy after a spell in Siena on a piano scholarship, I survived by class music school teaching in London - always part time - to pay for time to compose and play music. A fortunate encounter with Hephzibah Menuhin at the premiere of a cantata of mine in London led to meeting Yehudi, who commissioned a work for string orchestra for the Windsor Festival in 1969. This was my first big break as a composer and conductor. Also, winning 1st prize in an international children's opera competition in 1971 meant that I had begun my journey as a musician and composer of concert music.

Another fortunate encounter with the TV director Michael Darlow (The World at War) who was a neighbour in Islington, led to me composing for many TV programmes for him t the BBC, and later as a result, composing for films. (see my listings on the IMDB website).

I count myself extremely fortunate to have survived in a very competitive musical world as a composer, pianist and teacher for so long, and at the age of 70 now there seems no let up! I am now teaching post-graduate composition students at the Royal College of Music in film/TV music and orchestration techniques, and loving it. My composition work continues with a second Piano Concerto nearing completion, for performance and recording in Moscow later this year.

As our 3 children are now independent there is more time for me to work - and play - (mainly with grandchildren!)…….the roller-coaster of life continues!!

Francis Shaw - January 2013