If Music be the Fude of Love
by Claire Robertson

It all began with a cup of tea in a cafe and a chance glimpse into a shop selling musical instruments on the way home.

That was when Staffordshire composer Richard Beard had his first taste of creating music. It was just a humble mouth organ, bought for him by his beloved father, but many years - and many instruments - later that first gift has led Richard to produce his own book of music and songs. Fude for Thought is a collection of more than 40 songs inspired by Richard's hopes and dreams, loves and losses, and observations of his family and everyday life in Stafford, and Ireland. Indeed, it was the Irish, he said, who fuelled his romanticism and love of music and helped him overcome his own doubts.

"When I listened to others their effors always seemed better than mine. It has taken me a long, long time to realise this sense of insecurity is in us all, especially performers. As a nation I think we have lost our appreciation of someone who will get up and have a go. Not like the Irish - their present day culture reflects the musical background of a non-materialistic society, having to provide their own entertainment."

After his divorce, and searching for a purpose to his life, Richard found his way to West Ireland. It was the Emerald Isle that gave the budding musician his muse - a pretty Irish colleen from Connemarra, who captured Richard's heart and has been the inspiration for many of his love songs. Although the relationship progressed no further than a couple of meetings, this "Irish Princess" has been in Richard's thoughts often, through bad times and good, and can be found in many of his compositions.

Having mastered the melodeon, 'squeeze box' and piano, Richard was passionate about reading and creating music but there were times when it all seemed too much. He even wondered whether he should follow other people's advice and simply stick to making his living from timber, as had his father. "After a while, with no job satisfaction, I began to get fed up, nothing to show for all the effort, nothing tangible. I couldn't perform, not one piece. I felt so frustrated, sitting at the piano almost in tears."

At those low times, it was his daughter Andrea and son Martin - and thoughts of his lost Irish sweetheart - who spurred him on and made it all worthwhile. Now, after struggling to prove himself, Richard says his greatest wish is for his ditties to inspire others. "Now all I have to do is convince the world that we are all musical. We need first to convince ourselves and have faith in our own ability to learn, get on the bottom rung and enjoy the experience. If I have given some people the encouragement to get started, to enjoy playing even if only for their own amusement, then it has all been worthwhile".

© Staffordshire County Magazine www.staffordshirecountymag.co.uk

You can find 'Fude of Love' by Richard Beard for sale at Tracks in Uttoxeter . Please visit Richard's site at www.music4fundraising.net