HAVING an appreciation of what you are trying to sell is an advantage in any walk of life - and Stourport's Richard Woodhead is in a better position than most for doing so.

The man responsible for spreading the word about Wyre Forest's very own Last Night of the Proms does so following a life of enjoying theatre, music and the background work behind it.

Yorkshire-born Mr Woodhead, who moved to Stourport in 1977, knew he was a man for the stage and the work behind the curtain from his young days in West Riding - and since that time, he has not looked back.

The annual musical extravaganza - Music For You - at Kidderminster Town Hall, is a personal highlight for Mr Woodhead's year.

He said: "Being a part of the joy that event brings to people is a marvellous feeling and it was brilliant when last year we were able to reach a total fund-raising figure for charity of £100,000 in our 19th year."

However, Mr Woodhead, who performs at Music For You in the West Midland Light Orchestra and also has backstage and publicity roles, first got a taste for the action in his early years in Yorkshire.

He said: "I was always interested in the backstage side of things and I completed a degree in electrical engineering in London after leaving Yorkshire aged 19.

"I was into stage lighting in a big way and left school to join Texas Instruments in Bedford, which thankfully sponsored me through my degree.

"It was then I took up several sales roles in engineering and my interest grew further."

Years later Mr Woodhead, who now works self-employed to run management training programmes up and down the country, has appeared in productions by the Rose Theatre's resident group, The Nonentities, and for Wyre Forest's Acting for Charity Theatre.

Mr Woodhead, who is married with one daughter, added: "From my work and my hobbies I meet lots of different people and I absolutely love the area I live in.

"My love of theatre and music will always be with me.

"I cannot think of anything better in life than having a good time and raising money for charity at the same time."

Away from music, Mr Woodhead is also a keen aviation fan, and clocked up 100 hours flying time when he learned to fly in the 1970s.

He said: "Sadly my eyesight put an end to my chances of continuing to fly.

"However, I loved every minute of my time in the air and aviation is still a major hobby of mine.

"I like to go to flying displays when possible and it's an extremely enjoyable way of relaxing."