Mr Atkins is an active piano player and volunteers at the Glasshouse and local nursing homes, so that people can bask in the sweet tunes of the instrument. 

“I’ll keep going until they kick me out,” he joked. 

At the age of 9, Mr Atkins started piano lessons, and when he turned 14 he was ‘thrown in the deep end’ to play the organ at his local church. 

“I would have been pretty terrible because I knew nothing about organs really,” he said. 

“But they put up with me for 10 years to play the morning and night service on Sunday.” 

Mr Atkins said playing the piano has been beneficial for his health and wellbeing. 

He often doesn’t remember what he has to eat for breakfast but can remember songs from years ago. 

“I play music from all genres, and If I was just at home I wouldn’t be looking at it,” he said. 

“Playing here (the Glasshouse) gets me to look at all the music I’ve got and to do sight reading, which gets the old brain moving.” 

“I realise it must be doing some good for me somewhere.” 

He has also witnessed the effect that his music can have on his audience members. 

Mr Atkins explained elderly people can remember and recognise songs from years ago but often have trouble keeping track of  short term events. 

He said in nursing homes music can help people who haven’t communicated to anyone in months.  

“I’ve seen it happen more than once where you start the music and they endeavor to sing or make a sound.”

“It brings them to life a bit.” 

Mr Atkins said his favourite pieces to play include ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, and a classic from the rock era ‘Whiter Shade of Pale’.