87-Year-Old Pianist Delivers a Tear-Jerking Performance

I used to sneak off at school and I used to play the piano instead of doing my work. Did you get into trouble? I did, my family wasn't best pleased. I wanted to go to the Royal Academy but it never worked out and so I thought I want to do music so much so I applied to join the RAF because they had a band. It's a very good reason. So is that you? That's that one, that was me, yes. Being in the RAF, it was disciplined but it was fun and you met all kinds of people from all walks of life. I met my husband Phil when I was in the band. It was love at first sight. We used to go into the naffy for mealtimes so often that they actually had a table just for us two and they used to say to people, you can't sit there, that's Phil and Diana's. We got married in 1958. He was a very kind man. We only had eyes for each other and we were married for 63 years but unfortunately he was diagnosed with Parkinson's six years before he passed away. That first year without him, I don't remember much about it to be quite honest that year but one evening I was feeling really, really lost. I remember going to the piano and I was just dreaming. I was dreaming on the piano with improvising and somehow out of that came a tune. I just went with it really and suddenly I found that I can write music. Something that I never thought I would do in my life. Then I felt different because I kind of realised that I was working on something. I was feeling that this is not the end. Just imagine her while she was composing this, weaving a piece to comfort her from her sadness. It's simple but it's doing exactly that. Nice change. My husband Phil, he was a brilliant photographer. Would never without his camera but he always thought there was someone better than him but then I was a bit like that with my music. I never believed that I was actually good enough. I think he'd be very proud and I think he would like it. I think he would love it actually. Their dedication to each other is reflected in the act of her composing this piece at that age, in this time of her life. It's very moving for me. Wow. I would like to say to people never to give up on your dreams because I'm living mine at my age.