Norman Lewis, a musician from Monmouth, is keen to discover any details he can about a local man who encouraged his love for music.

Dick Kinsey lived at Nursery Road, Ross-on-Wye, until he joined the Air Force, he was a Navigator.

Mr Lewis knew Mr Kinsey in the 1950s and was aware of how keen he was to help people with music. Mr Lewis was living at Kerne Bridge and attended a dance at Bishopswood Hall. He spoke to the band and said how much he admired their playing. He explained that he owned a clarinet but it was not producing a very good sound. Mr Kinsey offered to take the clarinet and have a look at it. This he did and then returned it at the next dance.

He also gave Mr Lewis lessons for about 20 weeks and this was when Mr Lewis’s love of music really developed. He was a founder member of Monmouth Brass Band and is now researching the history of some of the musicians who influenced him.

Over time he learnt a little more about Mr Kinsey’s background. He discovered that Mr Kinsey taught himself to play the clarinet while he was a POW at Staleg Luft III in Germany.

On his return to England he set up a dance band called Blue Ramblers. Mr Lewis would really like to find out more about Mr Kinsey’s service record, his life in Ross-on-Wye or to hear from anyone who has any memories of being taught to play by Mr Kinsey.

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