Ailsa's Blog: Meet Our Members: Marilyn Williams

I've always wanted to be a teacher since I was six years old. I turned my Grandma's shed into a classroom and made my younger siblings be my pupils. I think that must have put them off school forever.

My childhood was based around music as a member of the Salvation Army until I left for college at eighteen. I'd always wished I had learned to play a brass instrument.

I qualified as a teacher (not a music teacher) and after having my two boys, I taught in a primary school in Basingstoke for twenty five years. I wasn't a qualified music teacher (I play the piano very badly) but my enthusiasm for music made me become a 'music teacher' and I loved every minute. I got children singing and playing an instrument and was lucky enough to conduct five hundred children, all eleven or under, singing or playing in an orchestra in the local theatre on several occasions. Once we were singing about monkeys and I walked to the podium in a monkey costume. Big mistake as the children couldn't sing or play for laughing.

I lived in Hampshire for thirty four years and two years ago decided to move to Sussex. The first thing I did was join the choir and I have loved every minute of it. I have made three great friends and the rest of the choir are very friendly and have made me welcome. I hope to laugh and sing with this choir for many concerts in the future.