Dream comes true for 99-year-old organist

Bill Bickley said he was overwhelmed to fulfil his dream of playing at Bilston Town Hall's tea dance

A 99-year-old organist said he was overwhelmed after his care home fulfilled his dream of performing for dancers at a town hall.

Bill Bickley, a resident at The Croft Residential Home in Finchfield, Wolverhampton, has played the organ all his life, despite never having had a lesson.

After attending the tea dance at Bilston Town Hall with friends from the home, he said he longed to take to the keys and entertain the dancers.

He was invited to play in the interval at the dance and was "10 feet tall" when he came down from the stage, according to onlookers.

The 99-year-old treated the audience to music hall favourite Show Me The Way To Go Home.

He followed it with Spanish Eyes and ended his set with Oh I Do Like To Be Beside the Seaside.

"I was overwhelmed! I’ve always loved playing and it was wonderful to be applauded by all of the dancers. I’m so grateful to Paul," Mr Bickley said.

The dancers taking to the floor at Bilston Town Hall

The arrangements for Mr Bickley to play at the dance were made by the home's activities coordinator, Paul Hipwood.

"When he mentioned he’d like to play at the tea dance, we were determined to make that happen," he said.

"Bill was 10 feet tall when he came down from the stage, we’ve never seen him grin so much!"

Mr Bickley added: "I’ve never had a lesson in my life! I didn’t want to play the piano, it’s a very different instrument.

"I love the sound the organ gives me."

Mr Bickley with the tea dance's regular organist Cameron Lloyd

The 99-year-old, originally from Portslade, East Sussex, moved to Wolverhampton as a child with his four siblings.

His father came in search of work, he said, with the family travelling on the back of a friend’s lorry.

After serving as a mechanic in the Fleet Air Arm during World War Two, Mr Bickley had a career as a salesman in the rag trade.

But alongside his family, he said it was music that brought him the most joy.

Mr Bickley chatting to dancer Irene ahead of his performance

Mr Hipwood said: "When Bill moved in, there was no way we weren’t going to let him bring his electronic organ with him!

"The instrument has adjustable volume so the other residents can’t hear – unless they want to – and Bill can happily play every day.

He added they could not have done it without the help and generosity of the tea dance's organist, Cameron Lloyd.

"He’s been a key part of making this such a wonderful experience for Bill," he said.