CHARLIE Landsborough grew up in the dockland area of Birkenhead in the 1940s and 50s.

The view from his front window was a mixture of docks, dumps, railway lines, oil factories and the coal wharf.

It may sound grim but he said his childhood was anything but.

Charlie, the youngest of 11 children, said: “It was chaotic but it was also wonderful. We had cats and dogs, we had chickens in the back, we had a duck at one stage and even a monkey and all the time there was this music.

“My dad sang, my mother sang. I remember there’d be a crate of beer in the corner and my brothers and their mates would be there singing.

Warrington Guardian:

“I became aware then of the power of music to transport you. I’d sit in the corner tapping a biscuit tin.

“The love of music was always there then I picked the guitar up at 13. I was very shy but wanted to learn so I waited for a day when I thought the house was empty.

“I picked the guitar up and I played it very badly. My brother came in and said: ‘Do you want to learn?’

“He taught me a couple of chords and then I was away lost forever.”

Charlie’s were all sailors and brought home gifts from all over the world.

He added: “We lived in what would be called a deprived area but when my brothers came home, I’d get gifts from around the world.

“I got a carved-out canoe from West Africa, a silk jacket from China and I loved the smell of the guitars they brought back.”

His brother Harry even brought home a monkey from West Africa.

Charlie said: “Customs were a lot more lax in those days. He had this big overcoat on and the monkey was asleep inside and as he got through the gates and up the road a little bit they said: ‘Have a good leave Harry and look after the monkey’.

Warrington Guardian:

Not the actual monkey

“They knew he had it all along. They took it down the pub that night and it picked the winning tickets out. It was about £23 which was a fortune then.

“I was the most popular lad in school as everyone wanted to see the monkey.

“My mother was distraught when it was brought home but we all loved it.

“It used to ride around like a little jockey on our dog who always had this resigned look.”

Charlie Landsborough will be playing at the Parr Hall tonight Friday. Visit pyramidparrhall.com or call 442345.