The School Pianist - Iris Broughton

"At the age of 97 I am proud to share my story. It is dominated by music but with a few tragedies along the way"

My happy routine of doing the job I loved was shattered in 1979 when the government decided to make cuts in spending on education and I was made redundant. The Seeley Primary School in Perry Road at Sherwood, Nottingham organised two concerts in appreciation of my 18 years service. The entertainment consisted of performances from former pupils of the school, a choir and an orchestra picked from the last ten years concerts. The Nottingham Evening Post reported the story, on Friday October 26, 1979 and included the picture printed below giving it the title "Bitter-Sweet School Harmony". The reporter wrote: "As a further indication of the popularity of Mrs Broughton. the shows - held on Wednesday and again last night (Thursday) were sold out for both nights".

I finished with a blaze of publicity but felt unwanted and abandoned as I sat at home on my own. A fairy godfather smiled on me a few months later enabling me to continue my story.