Accordion became key to Barry's life

And it was at the Odeon cinema in Blackheath where Les Davaldi and his junior accordion band caught the attention of Barry Smith and his father Bill.

Bill decided to pay half-a-crown a week for his son to have accordion lessons – and the decision paid off, as it led to a lifetime of playing the musical instrument for Barry.

His talent has taken him across the globe, and he has performed for celebrities including Bill Gates and Richard Branson.

Barry, who grew up in Blackheath and has lived in Rowley Regis since he married Christine, now 68, has a collection of 50 accordians – his first was bought when he was 12.

"I became ill at Christmas with a bad ear infection and totally missed out on the celebrations," he says. "My gran Sarah said they should buy me an accordion and they took me to Yardleys in Snow Hill, Birmingham and bought me a small 24 base accordion for £8." Two months later his father approached Les Davaldi at the cinema.

"My dad got me lessons for half-a-crown a week – in those days my dad was only earning £7 a week working at Chances Glassworks," says Barry, who has a daughter, Heidi, and son, Marcus as well as four grandchildren.

"I started lessons in the March and by August I was put in for my first competition and I came second." Within five years of starting lessons, Barry, a pupil at Holt Road Primary and Hill and Cakemore Secondary Modern, was playing concerts around the country, sharing the stage with Max Bygraves, Mike and Bernie Winters and comedian Frankie Poole.

He went on to be part of the Barry Schmidt Bavarian Band, and for the last 20 years, has been a member of the Master Butchers' Band.

In later life, Barry, now 70, ran his own building business but still found the time to entertain audiences around the UK, appearing in concerts alongside Norman Wisdom, Frankie Howerd, Beryl Reed and Ted Rogers. Other gigs have included playing at a party at the home of Lord Cavendish and the 100th anniversary of the Royal Welsh Show.

"During the Royal Welsh Show, the whole of the Royal Family showed up and on the final day the Queen arrived," says Barry.

But he says he's equally as happy playing at home. "One of my favourite audiences to play for is my grandchildren and even though I'm 70 I have no plans to retire – I will play for as long as my hands let me," he said.