Browse Sections

• Education
• James Chapman-Kelly
• Neil Roland
• Mancunian candidate
• Special reports

Bloomin’ inspired

Susannah Wright
26/ 6/2008

A CACTUS that once belonged to a legendary leader of the Halle Orchestra has bloomed for the first time in 35 years - after it’s current owner started playing classical music.

Eileen Dinan was stunned when the plant she was given in 1986 by the family of the late Laurance Turner - who led the Halle from 1939 to 1958 - suddenly started flowering.

She said the plant has thrived since after she started tuning in to a classical music radio station.

Eileen said the cactus especially seems to respond to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Britten’s Spring Symphony.

Eileen, of Sandy Lane, Chorlton, said: "I couldn't believe it, it’s never flowered before in all the time I've had it, not since it was owned by Laurance in fact.

"It has obviously developed an ear for orchestral music.

"I think I must own the most musically-literate plant in Manchester."

Laurance, who lived on Wilbraham Road in Chorlton, led the Halle through the Second World War and post-war years, when the legendary Sir John Barbirolli was conducting the orchestra.

He is remembered for leading the orchestra through a difficult time when it was struggling financially and it was playing four or five times a week.

Laurance, who also played first violin, died in 1976.

Grandmother-of-eight, Eileen, 69, was working as a home help in the mid-1980s when she began caring for Doreen Turner, the widow of the Halle leader.

Mrs Turner was in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, and relied on Eileen to prepare her meals and look after her on a daily basis at her home on Wilbraham Road.

And the Turners’ son, Hugh, who lives in Germany, and was appreciative of the care Eileen gave to his mother. Eileen said: "It was a shame that Mrs Turner started getting dementia, but she was always a lovely woman.

"And her son trusted me with her, so when she went into a nursing home he gave me the plant to say ‘thank you’.

"I’m still in touch with Hugh and he came to see me a few weeks ago when he came over from Germany, but it hadn’t flowered then.

"Hopefully, it will still be in bloom when he comes over again. In the meantime, I’ll just have to make sure I keep playing the classical music."