IN 1968, at the height of the Swinging Sixties, while the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix ruled the nation's airwaves, a musical 'revolution' of a much gentler sort was getting under way in Kidderminster.

But the 'New Music Society' was not all it seemed to be, as Bob Drew explains. "People turned up thinking it would be 20th century music. We got a lot of inquiries from people to play fairly outlandish music.

"It got to the point where we thought we ought to change the name to make it a little bit more understandable."

And so The Classical Music Society, which 33 years later is still going strong, was born. A group of like-minded listeners who get together to play their favourite recordings of classical greats and encourage other people to join in.

"It's my life," says co-founder Bob, 59, who has notched up more a quarter of a century as the society's treasurer.

The original group met in the old Kidderminster Library next to the former college, both of which buildings, at that time, were "a bit dilapidated," as Bob recalls.

However, over the years the venue has switched around a variety of locations. At present the group meets at Holy Innocents Church hall, in Foley Park, except when it holds live music events, which take place at the library.

In a nice twist, as Bob says, new proposals could see Kidderminster College return to the town centre just down the road from the current library, close to where it used to stand when the music society spun its first long-player.

Currently the society numbers around 70 members, down somewhat from its apogee of around 100. "We're always looking to get new members," Bob adds.

This year's programme includes sessions featuring a choice of records by individual members, such as "Jazz-influenced music of the 20th century," and "From Bach to Bernstein," as well as live performances, normally held about four times a year.

Bob traces his own love of music back to childhood. "I remember my grandfather had an old gramophone player that played 78s and he had a fairly extensive collection."

A favourite was a recording of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue which Bob didn't hear all the way through for some years as his grandfather's recording was damaged at the edge!

Early purchases included popular recordings by artists such as Frankie Vaughan.

Although he did take piano lessons, practising two or three hours a day, Bob says he is a listener rather than a practitioner.

Now retired, he worked for 38 years in accounting administration for British Wire Products, a firm which has seen many name changes.

Stourport born and bred, Bob is also editor of the society's newsletter and produces its music programme.