Latest news with #BillBooth
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Chorley: 'I feared I'd never play piano again after two strokes'
A pianist who thought he would never play the instrument again after having two strokes has credited staff at a community centre with getting him back on the Booth, 77, from Chorley, Lancashire, has played piano since he was 11 but he thought his playing days were over for good when he had two strokes in just over a year.A baby grand piano in the home he shares with wife Vivien lay untouched for nearly two years until he was persuaded to start attending weekly music sessions at the Inspire Youth Zone in the Booth said: "Viv says when I come home from playing with the band I'm buzzing." "I didn't go near the piano for nearly two years - I wouldn't listen to piano music and I just didn't want to know," he said."I even thought about selling it."Mrs Booth said that his social prescriber healthcare worker, Julie Bennison "badgered him" to visit the centre to see if he liked the music sessions and after a few visits he rediscovered his love of playing."Julie got me out of the chair with a crowbar and persuaded me to give it a go," Mr Booth classically-trained pianist, who reached grade eight, now attends weekly sessions, where he plays alongside fellow musicians including guitarists and drummers, describing staff there as "absolutely wonderful". "They treat me like royalty at Inspire. There's a cup of tea waiting, which is everything for me," he said. 'Life is wonderful' Asked to explain his enduring love of the piano, retired engineer, Mr Booth, said said: "I'm in a world of my own when I'm playing."I used to come in from work after a busy day and just go on the piano and that was it."He joked that the piano was "the only thing I have ever stuck to in my life, apart from my wife"."For me, life is absolutely wonderful. It couldn't be better," he said."He just looks forward to every Friday. They have done so much at Inspire to encourage him," said Mrs Booth. Mr Booth said when he had his first stroke on holiday in France in June 2023 he did not have any obvious signs but he realised something was wrong when he got behind the wheel and could not said this was not picked up until he had a second stroke in August 2024, which affected his mobility and also changed his personality, making him "a lot more sociable".He then underwent treatment in the stroke clinic at the Royal Preston Booth has gone on to perform with the band at a concert at the centre in February. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Veterans Voices: Erwin veteran still serves in Lord's army
ERWIN, Tenn. (WJHL) — Bill Booth served in the Army during the Korean War era. Now, he has a different role in the Lord's army as a preacher. 'The thing about being in the in the Army, Paul's writing in Timothy says be a good soldier in Jesus Christ so we're all soldiers of the cross so I'm still in the battle,' Booth said. Booth, an Erwin native, has preached in several states across the Southeast. 'Being a part of the Army makes us realize that we were always concerned about the other fella that was with us and that's the idea in being in the Army and God's army,' Booth said. Before Booth was a preacher, he was assigned to the Armor and Infantry Division of the Army during the Korean War era. 'They needed truck drivers more than they needed radio operators, and maybe I figured I could drive a truck before I could go to radio school but anyway I ended up being in the motor pool there at Arlington Hall Station,' he said. Booth joined on his own accord since he was of age for the draft. 'We shifted a lot of people from the base there over to the Pentagon and different places in Washington D.C., I know I had a route to the Army map service pretty regular on that,' Booth said. 'I got to go inside the Pentagon and see some of that,' he said. 'It was like a town inside of a big building and seeing all the big colonels and big generals.' Going on his own though set Booth up for success in the decades to come. 'You have to be disciplined in your life and it has been a great help to me,' Booth said. 'I know there's times I'd like to be doing something else and I need to be preparing my messages.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
