Alwyn’s band playing recently at the Soutar Theatre in Perth, November 2010
Alwyn James is a remarkable man. A former classics teacher at the prestigious Glenalmond College in the Perthshire countryside, he suffered a massive stroke in 1995 while on tour with his Blues band which left him partially paralysed on the right side and with a speech impairment known as ‘aphasia’. Aphasia manifests itself in various ways, but usually leads to difficulty in producing or comprehending spoken or written language.
This is not immediately obvious though when I meet Alwyn at his tidy little apartment in the centre of Perth city. A warm-hearted “How do you do” seems no struggle for Alwyn, followed by an enthusiastic “fantastic!” He invites me into his front room where I meet his younger sister Carol, who helps Alwyn communicate when the aphasia gets in the way. I am amazed to find out that Alwyn is seventy-one: he has that youthful look that can only be explained by an absolute lust for life.
Alwyn’s story is both sad and hugely uplifting. He received early retirement in his early fifties and rented a bothy near Gleneagles. He’d always been involved in music through the school, encouraging pupils to play and helping out whenever there were ceilidhs and concerts to organise. But retirement let him focus on his great passion – the Blues.
He names one of his earliest influences as Chester Arthur Burnett, better known as ‘Howlin’ Wolf’. His father, a classical musician who later became a clergyman, despaired when a young Alwyn would take the front off the piano and start playing honky-tonk.
Once resident in Scotland, however, Alwyn met some like-minded musicians. In 1992 he quit teaching to go professional and a year later set up his own band ‘Roll Wyn James’ with drummer Kevin Smith. The band proved a great success and toured throughout the UK and France. But after a particularly busy touring period around Christmas and New Year 1994, Alwyn suffered a stroke and had to spend eight months in hospital in Perth.
Roll Wyn James carried on touring successfully until 2004 but Alwyn couldn’t carry on with the band. Six months at the Astley Ainslie hospital in Edinburgh followed, where Alwyn continued to make a good recovery. But speech remained a problem and he had lost the use of his right hand. Alwyn lost interest in his music until his children, Rupert and Rhiannon, encouraged him to see how much he could remember.
As I chat for longer with Alwyn, the speech problems become more obvious. He points to the left side of his brain (which has clearly been damaged and explains the part-paralysis on his right-hand side) and then to his mouth. What he is saying, however, couldn’t be easier to understand: “I know what I want to say, but I can’t get the words out.” This is a highly intelligent man: a theology and classics Oxford graduate who went on to be a schoolmaster for twenty-eight years. It must be frustrating not to be able to put complex sentences together.
But Alwyn takes it in his stride, and with sister Carol at the ready with an intuition as to her hrother’s desired speech that only a sibling can possess, there is no trouble conversing. I find out that Alwyn has been travelling for years now to the Mackinnon Centre in Broughty Ferry, Dundee, where their marvellous music technology facilities have allowed him to rediscover his music. He has relearnt to play the keyboard with just his left hand and has recorded four albums since his stroke and raised £7,500 for the Mackinnon Centre. His story has been the subject of an award-winning short film by Hazel Baillie and he has been interviewed by STV News along with his daughter Rhiannon.
Both Alwyn and his sister Carol are absolutely charming people. They possess a great sense of humour too. Carol points out that, unfortunately, aphasia can manifest itself in an increased use of the ‘F’ word. Luckily, the words featuring prominently in Alwyn’s lexicon are the adjectives ‘fine’, ‘great’ and ‘fantastic’. One of his albums is called ‘Fine, Fine, Fine’ and Baillie’s short films on Alwyn are entitled ‘Fine’ and ‘Reluctant Silence’.
I listen to several tracks of Alwyn’s latest CD, ‘Blues by Numbers’. The quality of the recording is excellent and the musicianship outstanding. Alwyn plays keys and harmonica, while the rest of the full-on Blues sound is provided by long-time friends and collaborators Paul Henderson on guitar and vocals, Chris Agnew on bass and Kevin Smith on drums. When we watch a DVD of one of Roll Wyn James’ recent performances in Perth, Alwyn’s whole body starts to groove to the licks and he points excitedly at the television in anticipation of a keyboard or a guitar solo.
Clearly, whatever part of Alwyn’s brain the stroke damaged, he’s been left with his musical understanding and creativity intact. What an absolute blessing, both for him and for us. Let’s hope he carries on playing the Blues for many years to come.
Watch ‘Fine’ – an award-winning short film made in 2005 by Hazel Baillie about Alwyn’s recovery and return to music from Scottish Documentary Institute in the Bridging the Gap series.
I knew Alwyn as a classics master at Allhallows School, Lyme Regis, Dorset when he would have been fairly fresh out of University. I was a 13 year old blues enthusiast and was delighted to hear Little Walter and Howlin’ Wolf coming from his rooms. I was in the school blues band and remember him singing Muddy Water’s “Got my mojo working” with great passion and gusto. That was about 46 years ago and I still hear that same passion and gusto from Alwyn now. He is an inspiration!
Hi Bill,
Thank you!!!
Cheers, Alwyn
Alwyn taught my father at Allhallows School and then me at Glenalmond. He is a living legend; a kind and passionate teacher with a great sense of humour. His story since his stroke should be an inspiration and a lesson to us all. Keep on rolling Alwyn!
Alwyn’s the man, he’s faaaaaantastic!
Alwyn taught me at Glenalmond, and I have clear memories of him playing blues piano, wonderful stuff. Later he encouraged myself. Ian, Terry and Neil in our band, Sleazy Lady. We were no good, but Alwyn was always there to urge us on. Many thanks, and best wishes. Philip.
Although Alwyn and I have yet to play together (let’s hope it happens sometime soon) – I spent a great deal of my formative years as a musician playing with the band he founded, ‘Rollwyn James’, with Paul & Kev. Amazing to see the guys playing together again – Alwyn’s story is amzing and he’s a real inspiration. Keep on keepin on!
Great to see Alwyn’s story on this brilliant website. Alwyn is a wonderful inspiration to so many people. His passion and determination to continue his adventure with music is truly remarkable.
1995 jan 9th-massive–2010 nov 10 wed–cd “blues by numbers”-paul henderson chris agnew kevin smith and me!!!!! fantastic!!!! alwyn.
Grood to see and hear Alwym as lyrical he always was with both Catullus and Homer.
Hi Alwyn, Great to see you on this fantastic website and Forum.The Gig was wonderful live as always, its a credit to you and all the band!!. Keep rollin and looking forward to the next Gig!!.
Best wishes, Dave,Lucy & Jamie.
Life After Stroke Awards – Nominated Adult Courage Award – Alwyn James – H.R.H The Duke of Kent – The stroke Association.
Thank you,
Cheers,
Alwyn (Roll Wyn James)
cd roll wyn james-blues by numbers-no blues no 4= hmv perth – rwj-blues!!!! paul henderson chris agnew kevin smith and (stroke and aphasia) alwyn james.
oct 18th tuesday -7.30pm- norie-miller,perth concert hall-£5.oo. paul handerson chris agnew kevin smith and(stroke and aphasia) and alwyn james. CHEST HEART AND STROKE SCOTLAND.