2 August 2025

When Colin was an undergraduate at the Birmingham Conservatoire, we attended a lunchtime concert. Colin was playing. When he entered the auditorium, we were glad  to see that he was dressed appropriately although he had no hair on his head. His brother had shaved it off!

As he took his bow in response to the welcome applause, an elderly gentleman two rows in front of us turned to his neighbour and said, ‘He looks more like a football hooligan than a piano-player!’ We smiled. And Colin played without vandalising the Steinway!

Sometimes first impressions, superficial assumptions, fearful predictions, blind us to the inner beauty  harvested by those who are prepared to break the mould and be true to themselves even if it is to favour a bald head just like his dad!

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