Mustard Seed Songs First CD ” I Look Up To The Heavens” featuring Lucy Stimpson – recorded and produced by John Hodgkinson.

“Father Let Your Spirit Fall Upon Me”  featuring Lucy Stimpson from CD ” I Look Up To The Heavens”

So after a couple of weeks of reminiscing over the fantastic Easter Sunday Risen! Concert let me return to the story behind the music of Risen! together with  that of other Mustard Seed concerts and CDs.

When sometime in late 1997 I read in the Holy Rood Church notice sheet that there was a Worship Seminar to be held in Winchester, led by Brian Doerksen,  I had that “feeling” inside again that made me know that this was something I was meant to attend.  One of the many songs that Brian had written was “More than Oxygen” which had been  played at the Service in which I was baptised ( see blog April 17^th)  Brian is from Canada so I knew the opportunities to attend one of his Seminars would be few and far between.

So I went on my own to Winchester – which of course I knew pretty well having been to Teaching Training College there- to a church (now Winchester Family Church) housed in what had been a Cinema.  I have to say I was not entirely comfortable with all the hand raising and that is about all I can remember from the evening apart from the important fact that I thought – “I wonder if my pop songs could become Christian songs – perhaps that is why it was intended that I came to this Worship Seminar? “

So I went home and started “converting” the lyrics of my pop songs to Christian lyrics. For some songs this was relatively easy – only needing for example to change “Baby” to “Lord!” For others it was not so simple, for example “Don’t Lose Sight Of My Shore” became “Father Help Me Acknowledge You” taken from Psalm 139.

So I went to see John Hodgkinson and told him that I wanted to do some recording again. He was fine about that – however I now had to tell him that the songs to be recorded were no longer straight pop songs, with a view to making us money, but Christian songs.   For some reason I was embarrassed about this and so mumbled “John, the words have changed.”  John replied “Why, the words are fine.”  “Yes John but now they are Chris………. words” I did not actually say the word Christian as I had my hand over my mouth so just a muffled “Chris …” came out.  About three times this happened before John could hear the word “Christian.” “That’s fine” he reassured me – so there had been no need  for me to be embarrassed at all.

Next thing was to find a singer. I am sure Louise Redknapp (spelt correctly this time) and Cole (see blog March 20^th) would have sung it but I had just heard Lucy Stimpson sing at the School Prom Karaoke (see blog March 13th) and knew that “she was the one.” So next day I ventured over to the Music Department armed with my cassette of “Don’t Lose Sight Of My Shore.”  After hearing it Lucy said that she would love to record it but why as the previous recording was great. “Ah yes Lucy” I hesitantly explained “But the words have changed.”  “Why, they are great words” insisted Lucy.  “Thanks, but they are now “Chris……. words” I burbled with hand over mouth.  After the regulation three “Chris’s …..” the word Christian came out to which Lucy replied “That’s great I am a Christian.” What no way -this was going too well – what about all the micky taking I was expecting?

I also found out that Lucy not only had a beautiful voice but also played piano brilliantly. Also  that she could play either by reading music  or by ear – and as there was no way that I could ever produce written music Lucy being able to play by ear was just perfect!

So the first CD was born- “ I Look Up To The Heavens.”  The majority of songs being converted pop songs all recorded in John Hodge’s studio in his house.   I remember   “If Love Had Never Died” became “Jesus Is The Alphabet,” “No More Sad Songs” became “Let Us All Stand Up And Be Glad” and “Take My Look, Take My Touch, Take My Whisper”  which I had made up to sing to my son Chris at bedtime  became “Father Let Your Spirit Fall Upon Me.” “I had not made that song up when James, my other son was of an age to be sung to at bedtime – he had to put up with a version of James Taylor’s “Sweet Baby James.”

I remember giving my colleague in the PE Department, Neale Gordon, a cassette with some PE stuff on it not realising it also had a recording of “Father Help Me to Acknowledge You.” I remember Neale saying “What’s all this Father stuff I heard on that cassette you gave me?” I thought “Oh no here comes the micky taking big time” but no, Neale simply said “Well I liked it – anything I can do to help let me know.” And so Neale designed the artwork for our first three CDs and our Mustard Seed logo, created the first Mustard Seed Songs website and was I/C sound for many of our concerts.

When the recording of “I Look Up To The Heavens” was completed in 1999 Lucy, John, Neale and myself went to London to Hiltongrove Studios to have the CD mastered. We made a day of it picking up a West End Show- great times!

James, my son (who I have to say is now really supportive and gives good advice) said to me when we had 1000 CDs of “ I Look Up To The Heavens” reproduced -“Once all the aunties have bought a copy you won’t sell any more – I reckon 50 of  those 1000 CDs will go at best. “

Well for once he was wrong- very wrong – next week I will tell you how many copies of  “I Look Up To The Heavens have been  sold and also how Mustard Seed Songs became a registered charity – and that really  is an amazing story!

I will continue my written blog next week as I  thought this week you might like to see two clips from the Easter Sunday Risen! Concert at Holy Rood.

” I Love You Lord” (Laurie Klein) with  solo from Emily Shaw and “Hallelujah Glory, Glory” (from the musical Risen! ) with solo from Lorraine Marsh. Introductory recitative from  Alex Knox.

“My Jesus My Saviour/Shout to the Lord” (Darlene Zschech) with  solo from Lauren Chappell and introductory recitative from Chloe Brokenshire.

Here are a couple of photos taken from the concert on Sunday, more to follow. (Click on the image to enlarge).

“Woman why are you crying?” featuring Nicola Poustie as Mary Magdalene                          and Ben Morris as Jesus, melody taken from song below-

” I Look Up To The Heavens” from CD of same name, featuring                                              Lucy Stimpson_Maynard

The purpose of my blog is to tell the story behind the music of Mustard Seed Songs and in particular our new musical Risen! As you may know Risen! celebrates the Easter Story and  Joffy Girling and I  have been working on it since 2011

Last week the blog finished with me saying that this week I would tell you how my baptism of 1997 influenced me to write Christian songs. However please forgive me as I want to put that on hold for a week and instead fast forward to April 2014 and Easter Sunday’s Mustard Seed Risen! Concert which took place at Holy Rood Church, Stubbington.

In 2012 the Risen! script was in its infancy but we still  presented a concert comprising those songs that had been completed. This was augmented with Bible passages and praise songs to which the audience were invited to join in such as “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” and “My Jesus My Saviour.” The evening was fantastic with the church packed full with about 400 people. We raised over £1000.00 for two charities based in the Philippines “Barnabas Ministry of Encouragement www.barnabasministry.co.uk and the “House of the Heroes” www.houseoftheheroes.org

In 2013 we produced a full stage production of Risen! again at Holy Rood. My vision had been for this to be in the same vein as the Les Miserables’ 10^th and 25 Anniversary concerts in which the cast are in costume but who sing from positions behind stationary mics. However about a week before the production I realised that the Les Mis concerts used omni- directional mics so, for example Javert could turn away from the audience to look at Valjean without having to face his mic to be heard. Unfortunately we did not have access to omni -directional mics so we switched to face mics- which meant the cast could no longer “hide” behind stationary mics but would have to move around as in a normal musical. Paul Clements, who is Guildford School of Music and Drama trained, had joined the Risen! cast as a last minute replacement for the role  of Peter. What a God send he was! Paul took over the stage direction and with the help of Nicola Poustie who was  playing Mary Magdalene (Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts trained) and Alex Knox playing John (Guildhall School of  Music and Drama trained) Risen! was transformed in a matter of days from concert format to full stage production.

This taught me to trust God and that when one door closes it is usually because He is opening a much better one.

And such was the case for this Easter Sunday’s Risen! concert. We were beset with problems -our fantastic trumpeter had had his treasured “Smith Watkins” trumpet stolen and so could not play- our wonderful vocal MD was poorly and had to stay in hospital. In addition, with only a few days to the concert, the guy who was to sing the part of Jesus pulled out!

There was no time to find a replacement and so the only option was to use the recording from the forthcoming CD. This recording is sung fantastically well  by Ben Morris who is, at present, playing in the West End’s Phantom of the Opera, however not having a person to play Jesus was a real concern-we had no idea how the audience would react.

Well it turned out that the audience actually enjoyed it better than having someone play the role of Jesus “live.” The voice of Jesus combined with images on the church’s HD screens gave an ethereal feel which was extremely effective and powerful.  It also kept our costs down and we were able to donate £1000.00 to the two charities-  Barnabas Ministry of Encouragement and the “House of the Heroes”

So using the recording of Jesus proved to be a real success but it was the fantastic cast and technical team that really made the evening so memorable. Every single person involved produced performances that held the audience captive and the Easter Story was relived in a most blessed way.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to all who took part and of course to all who came to celebrate with us the Resurrection of Jesus. Also to our two sponsors Banbury Bodyshop of Segensworth South and Hire Cars in Spain of Lee on the Solent.

Next week I will continue where I had left off and explain how the baptism of 1997 led to me writing Christian songs.

Two songs are featured this week.  “I Look Up To The Heavens” which was the first song we recorded after I started writing Christian songs- I  used its melody for two pieces in Risen! – the first being “Woman Why Are You Crying?” sung by Jesus when He meets Mary Magdalene at the tomb early that first Easter Sunday morning.

“In Times of Trouble” featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard                                                            with John Hodgkinson on guitar – from Mustard Seed Songs CD “I Look Up To The Heavens”

Many years previously I had been invited by a member of my tutor group- Caroline Berridge I am pretty sure it was- to attend her baptism by full immersion at Holy Rood Church. As she came out of the tank dripping wet in what appeared to be her pyjamas I thought to myself “She is very brave -there is no way you’d catch me doing anything like that – I would be much too embarrassed”  Well as I explained in my  Blog of April 13^th I became a Christian on Feb 22^nd 1997 and not long after I read in the church notice sheet that there was an opportunity for me to be baptised by full immersion.  After a couple of quick enquires I discovered that you can’t be baptised twice. I thought   “That’s a relief I have escaped” – you see I had already been baptised (Christened) as a baby.  The trouble was shortly afterwards I found out that you can still re- affirm your infant baptism vows.

So I got this feeling inside me that made me think that this was something I should do even if I didn’t fancy it.  I thought that as there is safety in numbers I would get others from my Alpha group to be baptised with me- the trouble was none of them wanted to.  So I came up with what I thought was a brilliant plan; I would go to the Holy Land and get baptised in the River Jordan just like Jesus.  With this great plan I went to my mentor, Mr Mill’s dad Mr Milliken expecting him to be overjoyed with my idea. Oh no he was not overjoyed at all – Mr Milliken made it quite clear that I had to make a public testimony of my faith to my friends and family and in my local church.  My mind flashed back to Caroline Berridge’s dunking – this was going to be so embarrassing but I could see no way out. So I went to see the Vicar, Michael Christian- Edwards to tell him that I wished to reaffirm my baptism vows and that I was prepared (prepared but not happy) to give a testimony.

Holy Rood church was packed- I felt the water in the specially brought in tank – it felt less than tepid.  I received encouragement from Mr Mill and his dad, who was going to be my special helper, ready with a towel for me when I emerged; giving what I was sure would be the appearance of a drowned rat.

I remember one of the Christian songs we sang was one written by Brian Doerksen “More than Oxygen” and this became significant a little later re the song writing

Anyway before being “dunked” I had to give a testimony – I thought the best thing would be to tell how my fear of death had been taken away (or pretty much taken away) after I had become a Christian.  Michael Christian- Edwards had pointed out to me that The Book of Hebrews tells us that Jesus has freed all those who were held in slavery by the power of death- so I quoted this. I also talked about how one day I had gone on my own into Holy Rood after dark and a section of the beautiful stained glass window at the far end was illuminated. The illuminated part was that of Jesus portrayed as the Good Shepherd.  I remember staring at this image for some time and feeling really comforted. When I asked how the window had been illuminated no one really had an answer – a timing light was supposed to come on but that was to light the window to the outside – not inside.  There may well be a logical explanation but I prefer to believe it was a blessing from God to reassure me that He would always look after me in the same way as a Shepherd looks after his sheep- even when I got lost or went astray.

After I gave my testimony (which was quite long) someone shouted out “Hallelujah” I remember feeling really chuffed about this – I know I probably should not have felt proud but I did.

So on May 18^th 1997 into the “tub” I went – I was taken backwards into the water by Michael Christian -Edwards.   In the end I wasn’t in the least bit embarrassed  coming out drenched -in fact  I was exhilarated – Mr Milliken was there with a towel and these words for me “So do not fear for I am with you be not dismayed for you are my God I will comfort you and help you I will uphold you with my righteous hand” I later found this to be from the Book of Isaiah Chapter  42:11 These words have remained especially dear to me and when my wife Caroline was baptised in the sea in September 2011  I  said the same  words over her.  They also form part of this week’s featured song “In Times of Trouble” Somehow, and I cannot remember the story exactly, this song was adopted by the son of the Chief of The Karen tribe of Burma – (Myanmar) . These people have long been persecuted.  It also features on the Release International website www.releaseinternational.org.uk

Other people said prayers out loud for me and I particularly remember Paul Knight, who  had first invited me to the Alpha course (see blog April 3^rd) pray that I would become a “Fisher of men”  I felt humbled and joyful – it was a wonderful, unforgettable experience.

Not long after  I heard about a worship seminar being presented by Brian Doerksen – the writer of “More than Oxygen” played at the baptism-  next week I will tell you how that influenced me to start writing Christian songs myself.

The Red Alpha Book “Why Jesus”

“If I Say I Love You Jesus” featuring Lucy Stimpson- Maynard

So last week I was telling you that after that first night on the Alpha course I came back the following week and then the next and the next. I began to think that I wanted to become a Christian – I felt reassured by the words in John’s Gospel, Chapter 3 verse 16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” Eternal Life – that is what I needed to take away my fear of death.  Not something to be earned but something to be accepted as a gift.  Perfect – apart from two problems 1) did I have enough faith to accept Jesus” gift” with any degree of sincerity?  2) If I did ask Jesus into my life what would my mates say- how much ridicule would I have to endure?  Let me have a look at problem no 2 first.

Three of my very special friends are Barry Stares, Dave Conchie and Ian Beacham . Barry I have known since Junior School and Dave and Ian since PE College. We regularly meet for a drink and something to eat (yes curry)  At one curry Ian said “You will never guess what’s happened to Mick” He was referring to another ex-PE College friend, Mick Mellows who played football for Pompey and who is now a Director of the charity Faith and Football -www.faith&football.org.uk .  I thought Ian meant that Mick had been struck down with some horrible illness but no that is not what he meant at all. He continued “He’s only gone and become a Christian!”  To which Dave replied “No – and he was such a good bloke!”

Could I face that sort of comment if I “admitted” to becoming a Christian? I really doubted it.

As for problem no 1 re did I have enough faith? – Well thankfully someone told me I only had to have faith as small as a mustard seed (the smallest of all seeds in Biblical times.)  I simply had to focus on what I believed not on what I did not – simply had to trust – simply had to take a “leap of faith”

During the Alpha course I had been given a little red book entitled “Why Jesus?”  (as featured in pic) At the end of the book there is a prayer so I knew an opportunity was coming up for me to take that leap of faith and to say this prayer asking Jesus to come into my life.  I felt it really difficult to sleep with my two “problems”   constantly churning around inside my head.   The weekend came when I knew I had to make a decision – as part of the Alpha Course I was at the Holy Rood Vicarage with the Vicar, Michael Christian- Edwards and his lovely wife Merlyn.  When the others in my group were having a coffee break I escaped into the village to go through in my head what I was going to do.  On my return sure enough Michael gave everyone the opportunity to say a prayer asking Jesus to forgive us for all the things we had done wrong – to ask Him to come into our lives- and for us to be filled with His Holy Spirit.  I remember asking Michael if I could say the prayer twice.  He seemed surprised but said that was fine and so that lunchtime on Saturday, February 22^nd 1997 I asked Jesus into my life and became a Christian.

Why did I want to say the prayer twice?  Well there was Mr Mill and his dad that I also wanted to be there on such a momentous occasion. So that evening in Mr Mil’s apartment in Titchfield I sat between the two of them confessing out loud all the things I had done wrong and again asking Jesus into my life. Some of the things I had done wrong were pretty big – one had been a real burden for many years but after I had confessed it  the burden lifted- I know that sounds amazing and too good to be true  but amazing is what it was and too good not to be true!

So I thought “micky taking” here you come, but I decided to be  pro-active and tell people before they found out through the grapevine. First off was Barry who I had known the longest -he was surprisingly supportive – so too was Ian – but I could not tell Dave, it was Dave who had made the comment about Mick Mellows – he was sure to let me have it with both barrels.  A couple of months later Barry and Ian told me that Dave was really upset with me for not telling him. So I took Dave out for a curry (of course) and felt pretty emotional when Dave told me that he loved me (in a bloke way!!) and that he would always support me in anything I did and that he was upset because it seemed that I did not believe I could trust him.  So big apology from me and really all the worries about people “taking the mick” turned out to be groundless- mind you I think my two sons James and Chris took a bit of stick at school.

So did my fears of dying die (sorry) If I am honest not entirely – but I did have God’s promise to hold on to and you can’t have much more than that.   In fact later I wrote a song called “It’s From the Lord” which is on our CD “Heart and Soul” – the last verse of which is “When your time on earth is ending and you look up to Him on high and your see His promises sparkling spelt out in stars across the sky and open arms reach to embrace you to welcome you home then you know, yes you know it is the Lord.”

I also wrote a song which was a sort of autobiography of me becoming a Christian and being worried about what people would think – this one is on the CD “Precious” and is called “If I Say I Love You Jesus”  I did actually once sing it live myself at a Mustard Seed Concert but here it is  sung by the fantastic Lucy Stimpson-Maynard.

But I did not start writing Christian songs immediately I became a Christian – that came after a full immersion baptism which I will tell you about next week.

Stop Press– Easter Sunday Risen! Concert – 7.30 pm at Holy Rood Church.  Proceeds to two charities based in the Philippines and run by friends of mine – Barnabas Ministry of Encouragement and The House of The Heroes – Jesus now being played by Andrew Bateup – Royal Academy of Music- Played Levi and Butler in Joseph and Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (2013 tour) – Hear him sing on https://soundcloud.com/andrewbateup

   Alpha Logo

“Who Am I To Judge?” from the Mustard Seed Songs’ musical “His Story.” Sung live by Ron Long and the Mustard Seed Soul Band at the Ferneham Hall, Fareham

So I was knocked out with the simplicity and absolute belief that Mr Milliken (Mr Mill’s dad)  had when he said “Yes”  to my question as to whether his wife, who had died two years previously, was in heaven.  I took Mr Milliken back to his sheltered accommodation in Titchfield,   not too far from the venue for the  Heat Discos and, with my son Chris, listened in awe to his stories of being a Missionary in the Belgium Congo.

The next day I rang Mr Mill to say how amazing I thought his dad was – he of course agreed with me. I told Mr Mill that I felt I wanted to go to Midnight Mass that evening and would he come with me.  Mr Mill said that his church did not do Midnight Mass but that he would go with me to the church near Crofton School – Holy Rood.

Now most Christmas Eves I would be down the local pubs to have more than a few beers with ex- students so I was rather embarrassed about missing out the Red Lion and going “next door.”   However I thought it would be worth it as the heavens would, no doubt, open up for me and I would experience something “spiritual. ” However nothing happened in the service apart from the singing of “Oh Little Town of Bethlehem” and a sermon on the visit of the Wise Men ( I know that does not sound very complimentary to Holy Rood but it does get better I promise!)  At the end of the service a member of Crofton School’s Senior Leadership, Paul Knight, told me he was doing an Alpha Course  (an introductory course on Christianity) and would I like to go. I thought “No Way!”  Paul is now a dear friend and a Trustee of our charity Mustard Seed Songs, but at that time he was simply a member of the Senior Leadership Team so there was no chance of me going to an Alpha course led by him.

All that Christmas holiday I kept bumping into Paul – every time I was invited to a mince pie afternoon he would be there and each time ask the same thing – would I go on an Alpha Course? It turned out that he was not actually leading the course – just attending. He also said that my old mate Paul Hiscock of the Tech department was going so I did soften a bit but not enough to say “Yes.” At the final mince pie afternoon Paul asked me again and exasperated I said “Paul I can’t make Wednesdays – I am coaching Basketball” He replied “It’s on a Tuesday.” I was speechless – I had run out of excuses and so found myself one Tuesday passing the Red Lion and praying (well not really) that I would not be seen going into the Church opposite to my first Alpha night.

I was greeted by a smiling person (obviously a “Do Gooder” I thought) and presented with a badge with my name on it.  I expected everyone to be wearing Jesus sandals and when I saw that someone actually was I decided to beat a hasty retreat.  Paul Hiscock had been trapped by the Vicar so no help there – but then I smelt the curry. Now curry is the staple diet of PE students and teachers so I decided to delay by escape until after I had sampled the curry.

During the Chicken Korma I spoke to a lovely lady called Margaret who asked me what I was doing there and when I had difficulty in answering, reassured me that she too was unsure why she was there.

Tasty curry over – perhaps I should give the Vicar a chance? He looked a pretty cool guy and was not wearing a dog collar – not that I had a problem with that – So here we go to the ice cold pews for a boring sermon on Christ dying for my sins just like my past experiences as a choir boy. Actually no not at all! We went upstairs in the Church Centre to a warm and pleasant room with sofas – all rather nice and relaxing. The Vicar, Michael Christian- Edwards (appropriate name I thought) who has also become a dear friend started off with a joke and quite a good one at that – the laughter relaxed everyone and then Michael talked about whether or not Jesus really did exist. I really enjoyed the talk and even more the opportunity to ask questions afterwards- which I did in abundance. What about this and what about that – Michael answered all my questions with patience and great knowledge. I went home thinking I wonder?  But there was no way really that I could ever become a Christian – what would my mates say?  I would be a laughing stock – “Jesus Freak”  and “Bible Basher.”  However I went back the next week and then the next and then  the next  and then, and then –  well I’ll tell you that in next week’s blog.

Song this week is from our first musical “His Story.”  It is sung by Ron Long who was the “His Story” Stage Director for all our productions until the last one at Ferneham Hall where he switched to performer and sang “Who Am To Judge.”  It is probably the first song that tells a story in the musical theatre genre and so is very much a forerunner for  Risen!

Ricky Martin and others from Ken’s tutor group at Alton Towers

Ricky Martin and Ken at Crofton School

“We Are Hard Pressed”  featuring Helen Joy Rubio and Ross Gill

So fame and fortune would appear to be just around the corner thanks to “Don’t lose sight of my Shore” winning the Eurovision Song Contest.   There seemed only two issues to resolve – first who was going to sing it?  Bucks Fizz, Cliff, Katrina and the Waves or maybe even Engelburt .  Second did I buy a Ferrari, a Porsche or both?  Unfortunately someone in the Eurovision Song Contest hierarchy had not read the script and so for some reason, still not fully understood, the song was not chosen to be the UK  representative- disaster!  The record company did ask if they could adapt the song for the Country and Western market in America but I was never a fan of Tammy Wynette or stetson hats , chaps and spurs  so I simply  went back to worrying about how to win the next Basketball Cup for Crofton School.

Talking about fame – I think the Crofton student who achieved the most fame whilst I was Head of PE was Steve Richardson who represented Europe against USA in the Ryder Cup.  Rich Martin (Ricky Martin) also became famous when he won The Apprentice in 2012. Rich, as I have said before, was in my tutor group- featured are two pics – one of  him with me  when he returned to Crofton after winning The Apprentice  and one of him a tad earlier on a trip to Alton Towers.  Rich is a great example of someone who wanted something and went out and worked really hard to get it. I still play golf with Steve Richardson and I am still in touch with Rich – fame thankfully never went to their heads- two really nice, humble guys.

I said that after the Eurovision Song Contest let down I went back to worrying about winning Basketball Cups – well that is not all I started worrying about- I also started worrying about dying!

I was not so much worried about how I died, although I did quite fancy being a hero and rescuing someone from drowning or from a blazing inferno (as long as it did not hurt too much) No I was worried about what happened after I died.  Some friends asked why I worried as I would not know anything about it – it would be the same as it was before I had been born or it would be just like switching off a light bulb. However the thought of no existence- just switching off to nothing freaked me out.  When I was  about 15 years old  I broke my leg playing football – it  ached and ached for about two weeks afterwards and then someone visited me who had previously broken his leg but who told me it stopped hurting after a couple of days. So dear mum took me back to the hospital to have another x ray and the bone was found to be still apart – I think they forgot to set it. So I had to have a “Denham Compression Plate” fitted which was screwed into the whole length of my tibia. The operation took about six hours but after they put the needle in with the anaesthetic and I counted to ten I woke up straight away – of course I did not it just seemed that way- my brain had been shut down for six hours- I had no knowledge of existence and that is what I thought being dead might be like and that scared me to death (sorry)

That experience had such an effect on me that I have never had a general anaesthetic since- even opting for a local when I had a hernia op.

On the other hand there was of course the possibility that death is not the end, in which case what comes next?  Reincarnation did not work for me so what about going to heaven or heaven forbid (sorry again) hell?  I had studied RE for O Level and also for A Level (on the few occasions I attended 6^th Form) I had also been a choir boy and had been confirmed into the Church of England so I knew  the basics of the Christian faith although I could never work out how Christ being crucified could “save me from my sins” However  I would always say that  I believed in God but now I was beginning to realise that I had to decide whether I really did as He seemed to  be the only one who could sort  out this death issue for me.

My dear friend Bob Milliken (the legend that is Mr Mill) had, I later found out, been praying for me for eight years, not non -stop of course, but nevertheless showing real perseverance.  He kept putting Christian literature in my pigeon hole at school -for example testimonies of famous sportspeople who were Christians.  I never really read them, although because of my respect for Mr Mill I never threw them away.

One day at the end of term Bob invited me to go to his church in Paulsgrove.  As it was a Christmas Service I thought I would go and sing a few Carols and that would appease him. So I went with my son Chris assuring him that we would only have to sing “Oh Little Town of Bethlehem” listen to a sermon on the Wise Men and then we could come home.

You can imagine my shock when the Pastor (it was a Baptist Church) started talking not about The Wise Men but about death- he got my undivided attention and it seemed like I was the only person in the church and  so the only one the Pastor was talking to.  At the end of the service Bob introduced me to the old gentleman who had been sitting to my left – his dad.  Bob went off to talk to someone and I chatted to his dad, obviously also called Mr Milliken.  Mr Milliken told me that he had been a Missionary in the Belgium Congo and that he and his wife had evangelised the natives by singing hymns to them around camp fires; his wife playing a squeeze box. I knew that his wife, Bob’s mum, had died about two years previously and I found myself asking “Oh is she in heaven now then – singing to the natives?” Mr Milliken replied, not with a “God willing” or “That’s a nice thought.”  He simply replied with one word and it was the one word that began to change my life – “Yes”

Next blog I will tell you how I responded to Mr Milliken’s “Yes”

The song I have chosen for this week is “We are hard pressed” sung by Ross Gill and Helen Joy Rubio. We produced this for  “Release International”  a charity that supports the Persecuted Church.  The song is on the Mustard Seed Songs CD  “For Unsung Heroes”  and is  also available  on the website www.releaseinternational.org

“Recording “Don’t Lose Sight of My Shore”

“Don’t Lose Sight Of My Shore” featuring Louise Rednapp and Cole – arrangement John “Hodge” Hodgkinson

First some apologies. The tutor group that started the “Prom” was not in fact my first tutor group. I had earlier inherited a tutor group from Miss Sue Jones when they were in Year 3 (Year 9) So my apologies to Julie Toomer was Windsor, Kevin Vass and all the rest of that class. Apologies also to Miss Jones who I forgot to say,  in blog of March 6,^th, was the original Music Teacher.  I have also had other great tutor groups-  the one which included Si Cook and Nikki Miller, the one which included Kate Russell and Rich Martin – (Ricky Martin who won The Apprentice 2013 ) The  tutor group which included Rachel Vardy and Aaron Beale and my last one which included Ali Tut and Chloe Hawksey.

Also apologies to all the sports teams that I have not yet mentioned such as the Hampshire Basketball Winners which included James Shearsmith, Zaine Brookes and Alex Adams. The Hampshire Basketball Cup Runners up which included Chris Shearsmith, Simon Shields  and Andy Wilkinson. The National Cup Basketball stars who included Matt Ancell, Nigel Kershaw and Mark Sandford. The Hampshire Cup Football winners which included Jon McTernan, Neil McRoberts and Andy Davis.

I feel I also should take this opportunity to put the record straight to admit that I did leave one of my tutor group up the Eiffel Tower during a weekend trip to Paris.  It was however an initiative test which he passed with flying colours. He managed to communicate to a friendly  Gendarme “Je suis perdu et mon Professeur est un idiot”  and the friendly Gendarme got us reunited at our next port of call which might have been The Louvre or some other small Parisian attraction! No mobile phones in those days by the way.

My son Chris and Jez Field passed a similar initiative test when I left them at Gatwick Airport after returning from a trip to U.S.A.  I realised they were missing when we were about 30 minutes from  eaching Stubbington. The coach driver did not mind turning around at all (not!) I am sure Chris and Jez stayed calm knowing that we would return (eventually.) Jez’s mum did speak to me again but I think it took about ten years.

So with all this going on at school the music took a backseat until one day I went for a meal at the home of Mrs Jan Davies and her husband Barry.  Jan was the first PE teacher at Crofton, having started a year earlier than me when the school was housed in the temporary accommodation at Crofton Hammond.  Jan had twin boys Tudor and Alun.  Tudor was really into music (he now works for the BBC Sound Department) and had a keyboard in his bedroom.  I left the adults downstairs drinking coffee (which is a pet hate of mine) and went to chat to Tudor.  He played me some stuff on his keyboard and I hesitantly asked if he could play something if I sang it to him (apologising profusely about my voice of course) I sang him a new song I had made up “Don’t Lose Sight of My Shore”  Again not the happiest of lyrics – “When you start your journey tonight , have to leave my arms once more, please don’t forget all that’s been said don’t lose sight of my shore. Stay in touch with my touch, let my emotions still soar, keep my hand within reach, don’t lose sight of my shore”

To hear him play the melody back, which up to then I had only heard in my head, was utterly amazing.  He then played “If Love Had Never Died” and some of the other songs I had made up. I went home buzzing.

Next day I went to see my mate John Hodgkinson (Mr Hodge) who was Crofton’s Head of Science and also a brilliant musician, in fact he played in a band with Tudor – “Trilogy.” When I told John what had happened the night before he said “ I can do that. My nickname is Xerox–  I can copy anything. “  Sing me your song.” “No way”   I said whilst secretly hoping he would persist- which he did. So that break -time I sang to John “Don’t Lose Sight of my Shore” which continued“ For we made magic held each other spellbound but our love was no illusion just the truth that we both found”

John was quiet when I had finished and then said“ We had better record that- come over to my place – I have a recording studio”  And that’s what happened.  We then got a girl in my tutor group Louise Rednapp to record  a somewhat better version than my effort and later we decided that it worked better as a duet so we added the voice of a guy called Cole who was lead singer in another band that Tudor played in -“Yellow Cab”

And  then we sent it off to record companies and believe it or not  we got a  phone call from a record company that had produced a big hit – “I love Rock and Roll” by Joan  Jett and the Blackhearts. They said they wanted to use “Don’t lose sight of my Shore” for their Eurovision Song Contest Entry – Fame at last ? – I’ll tell you in next week’s blog.

“The Party to End all Parties” My Tutor Group- 1991

Off to Alton Towers – My Tutor Group -1989

“The Prom” – 1998

Dec to not smoke

“Declaration of Intent to not Smoke” (click on link to view this)

“Judas” featuring Tom Millen- arrangement Joffy Girling

I wonder how many of you ex Crofton pupils (or parents) remember the “Declaration of Intent” – to be a non-smoker during his/her Crofton School education? (featured in pic) It actually proved to be a real success and was recommended by a national non -smoking campaign.
The idea came about because I was passionate about helping pupils to stop smoking, or to encourage them to never start. I gave lots of talks in Assemblies telling the story of how I had smoked from the age of 15 to 21. How I had been invited by two “Jack the Lads “ Trev Lovett and Jamie Adams to my first “dance;” one in which a class mate Ray Shulman was playing in a band called “The Roadrunners” (see blog Feb 6th) Apparently I had mucked about in the back of a Science lesson and had got into enough trouble to be accepted by Trev and Jamie as “alright” and thus get the invite.
The “Club” was in Eastney Modern School in which Ray’s brother Phil was a Teacher. I was totally naïve and this was the first time I had been to anything more social than an Auntie’s birthday party. I had no cool clothes to wear – it was a toss-up between my school uniform or cricket whites. Fortunately I had just about time to get to “Squires” in Commercial Road for mum to buy me a Ben Sherman button-down shirt and a black knitted tie.
I managed to refuse the cigarettes Trev and Jamie offered me on the walk from the bus. “What’s up, can’t your body take it?” I remember them daunting. When I got inside the “club’” I could not believe the atmosphere – it was super charged – girls in mini- skirts – and I mean mini -skirts – music so loud it made my ears hurt and a strange smell which I later found out was body odour and girls – girls in mini- skirts and I mean mini- skirts – whoops I have already said that! Now remember I was going to an all -boy’s school and was shy as anything with the opposite sex- so when one girl later offered me a cigarette there was no way that I could refuse. Mind you I made myself look a complete idiot by trying to light the filter tip end! But that was the start of my smoking “career” which finally finished on my 21st birthday. A very wise decision- it is possible that if I had not quit then I might not be here to write this blog
After giving one particular Assembly talk about my first encounter with nicotine I had the feeling that some pupils thought I was making the story up. However a little later I brought Trev Lovett with me into another Assembly, who not only confirmed my story but also told a hushed audience how he had suffered two heart attacks because, unlike me he had not ever quit smoking. I asked Trev in that assembly what would happen if he had a third heart attack – I think you can guess his answer.
I have always enjoyed organising things and I have already mentioned “The Tube” and “Heat “Discos and the various Football, Basketball, Pony Trekking and Skiing holidays. I also took my first Tutor Group to Paris as well as, of course to the ubiquitous Alton Towers and Thorpe Park. When this Tutor group left Crofton we had “The Party to End All Parties” in the large garden of the house that I was renting at the time. As you can see from the pics everyone was in Formal Dress and it was indeed “The Party to End all Parties. “
This party was, in fact an extension to an event that this, my first Tutor Group invented -“The Prom.” In fact we were the first school to have a “Prom” – all the other schools copied our idea. It came about like this:
I had showed my Tutor Group a video of the film “Footloose” starring Kevin Bacon and in the final scene all the High School Students go to their Prom. My Tutor Group thought it would be great idea for Crofton to have one – I reckon this was 1992. We looked at different venues and decided to go for a basement club called “Ritz’s” which was under the Mecca/Locarno Ballroom in Arundel Street, Portsmouth. michaelcooper.org.uk/C/mecca.htm‎
My Tutor group decided that it should be smart casual wear but somehow it turned out that everyone turned up in Dinner Jackets and Ball Gowns. The looks on the faces of the locals was a picture when 200 pupils dressed to the nines got off the coaches and walked down Arundel St. We had karaoke and the whole thing was just a huge success. Later we moved the “Prom “ to the Pyramids, Southsea (as in pic) and then the Botley Grange Hotel. Although we had coaches take us to the “Proms” the tradition started with the pupils getting to school by Stretch Limo and now, well all sorts of transport has been used from tractors to uni -cycles, from lorries to wheelbarrows
It was at “The Prom” that I first heard our new Music Teacher, Miss Lucy Stimpson sing. It was part of the Karaoke which had by then become an established part of “The Prom.” Lucy sang the Joe Cocker version of the Beatles’ song “With a little help from my friends”
Lucy became the voice and the musical talent that enabled the songs I had made up in my head to become heard. She was, and still is indispensable to Mustard Seed Songs and me. One song sung by Lucy “For God So Loved the World” can be heard on the blog of Feb 13th but more will feature in the following weeks. In the meantime here is another song from our musical Risen! This one features Tom Millen playing the part of the disciple James. Tom trained at the prestigious Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. James sings this song after he discovers Judas has betrayed Jesus. The arrangement is by Risen’s brilliant Musical Director – another ex -Crofton Student, Joffy Girling.