A TWICKENHAM coun-cillor has shown his musical side by releasing an album of blues guitar tracks for charity.

‘Alan Butler - The Other Side’ was launched this week at a special concert at Sandown Court, a retirement home in the town run by Richmond Housing Partnership, of which he is a board member. He is hoping to raise £20,000 for Macmillan Nurses.

It was one of RHP's leaseholders, Mrs Atkinson from Strawberry Hill, who first introduced Cllr Butler to black delta blues at the age of seven, when they both lived in Twining Avenue, now one of RHP's estates.

During his teenage years he played locally in clubs for the princely sum of £2 10s a night, but said that he had to give this up to get a 'proper job' when he saw the reality of leaving home and providing for himself.

Cllr Butler said: "Producing this CD has been the realisation of a life long dream to put something down on record that could compare, however badly, with the records I heard as a child.

“It was the music of the great blues guitarists that that first made me aware of the social injustice that unfortunately is a real factor in our lives. It inspired me to help the people who couldn't help themselves, and this still remains my motivation as a local councillor.

"I decided to put my ambitions to good use by helping Macmillan Nurses, in memory of Mrs Marilyn Thomas, who inspired me to become a councillor by introducing me to the Conservative Party.

"Unfortunately, Marilyn died several years ago in the Princess Alice Hospice. I regard Macmillan Nurses as the Florence Nightingales of our times and it is important that enough funds are raised to provide this care for the terminally ill. My recording and my aim to raise £20,000 for Macmillan is an attempt to support this worthwhile charity. It is certainly not an attempt to launch a musical career!"

All the artwork for the CD was kindly produced free of charge by artist Hazel Sims, from Whitton. The album was recorded at Hatch Farm in Addlestone, with the help of the same recording engineer who worked on several of Cliff Richard's records.

Cllr Butler can be seen performing at the Mayor's Dinner, the Mayor's Party and the Arthritis Carers Society Annual Tea. He is also touring RHP's 18 retirement schemes across the borough.

If you would like to make a minimum donation of £10 for a copy of 'The Other Side', which features 18 tracks, including covers and Cllr Butler's own compositions, call 8894 4541.