Michael ‘Mick’ Potts was a young and extremely gifted classical pianist who regularly won his Pianoforte Solo class at the Music Festival.
On his visit to Carlisle the renowned composer and adjudicator Herbert Howells was so impressed with Michael’s playing that he offered to take him as his personal pupil at the Royal College of Music. As well as classical music, Michael also loved to play jazz, and later his name was ‘Mick’ Potts, trumpet player and leader of Carlisle’s Gateway Jazz Band (considered by many to have been the bestie the country!) until his death in 1993.