All this is interspersed with a very individual brand of jokes and unlikely tales (those of the well-known variety act Basil Belvedere and his Ten Tumbling Scorpions come to mind). The spectacle of John in full flight, flailing wildly at the vibes, producing the right notes at an impossibly rapid rate, is one unmatched on the local scene. Regular gigs include ‘The Trumpet’ in Bilston High Street, which has become an institution over the years for its nightly live jazz.

He attended King Edward Vl school in Stourbridge: “Dr. Samuel Johnson was there a little before me,” quips John. Despite the school’s best efforts, John Sparry, who has broadcast talks on both Radio 3 and 4, still retains his Black Country accent. These days he does not drive but has always admired Captain George Eyston.

He has written for the magazine of that area, The Blackcountryman, and he wrote jazz reviews for The Listener. In the 1960’s a number of John’s quirky cartoons were accepted for publication in the Daily Mirror. For some years since the death of his mother, Daisy, he has been developing his range of informative and amusing talks in venues as diverse as colleges and village halls (and once in London which is quite a long way from Wall Heath!).