Spending a lot of time in hospital recently for family reasons not only reminded me of the incredible work that our doctors and nurses are doing but also some of the incredible people that give up their time to help others.
One such character is a softly spoken 82-year-old Scot who I encountered on one of my many visits. A self-taught pianist who plays by ear, Gerard delights patients and visitors at several London hospitals with his repertoire and provides a welcome distraction to those in need of some therapy.
What struck me about this humble man of a few words, who has been undergoing treatment for prostate cancer for the past five years, is his passion for the piano - he does what he does because he loves it so much, ever since he first heard those first notes as a six-year-old in primary school.
Passion for piano
I guess there were two reasons for writing about this. The first simply to tell Gerard's story and the good deeds that so many people around us do and above all the generosity with their time, which we all seem to have so little of.
The second point, which I have already mentioned, is the passion for doing something you really enjoy. Watching Gerard play the piano drummed this home - there is no money in the world that can substitute the satisfaction of doing something you truly love.
There is no better feeling in the world - to use a musical term, 'allegro' or more aptly one that brings 'allegria'.
Listen to Gerard
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