I remember getting jeered at by another woman singer, way back when I first lived in Portsmouth - she sang with a couple of male instrumentalists. I was always having to try to get some fresh air into the pubs as they were full of smoke. She used to have a strong loud voice and belted out the songs.

Then she began to cough a bit.

Then one day her voice vanished and never came back.

I saw one of the men playing solo when I lived in Portsmouth the second time, and asked why. Apparently she went to the doctor a couple of times and was told to stop singing and she ignored the advice.

Be warned!!

Anne Croucher