South Yorkshire Times July 5, 1947
A Musical Trio
Promise and Versatility Of Swinton Brothers
Three Swinton boys are all able musicians and play in Mexborough Grammar school orchestra. They are sons of Mr and Mrs W Burley of “Brooklyn house,” Broomville St, Swinton.
Learned in Orchestra
Kenneth (18) an accomplished pianist, played the double bass at the recent school concert, having learnt to play this instrument through joining the orchestra.
17 year old Donald playing the violin, and the youngest of the trio, 12 year old Eldon, played the recorder, but he studying the piano.
Their interest in classical music of the most extreme type is a source of wonderment to their mother, who told a “South Yorkshire Times” reporter that although she and her husband like music, they never studied it.
“When a Symphony concert is on the wireless they don’t like me to speak, and if I do, they asked me to listen, and tell me I’ll be sure to appreciate eyebrow music if only I will give my attention to it,” she said.
The boys seize every opportunity to go to Symphony concert, and on one occasion when his elder brother brothers were unable to go, Eldon made all arrangements and made the journey to Sheffield by himself.
Kenneth and Donald are first-class scouts in the 16th Doncaster (Mexborough) Troop and Donald is to take part in the international jamboree in France this year. Kenneth started to study the piano when he was 10 and has now passed the final examination of the Royal School of Music, London.
Donald has been taking violin lessons for five years, and first started through this the Grammar School Orchestra. He holds a number of certificates. Eldon is the family’s youngest pianist, and among his many prized possessions is a certificate awarded for second place in a Musical Festival class.