In January 2002, Melinda was 40, but with Sharon’s death still raw, she wanted a quiet celebration meal at a local pub in rural Northamptonshire.

When she walked in, she found Terry on sax leading a quartet of drummer Johnny Richardson, pianist James Reader, who she had met three weeks earlier, and old friend John Gear on trumpet, who had flown in especially from Iceland.

Her quiet night ended, thanks to husband Mark, in the small hours, with Melinda singing her heart out to a packed and jumping put.

She was back in business and formed The Melinda Lightfoot Quartet, recording demo tracks which became a CD album and taking bookings at The Ritz, London; The Stables, Wavendon and Castle Ashby, Northamptonshire, as well as helping with her sons’ homework, cleaning their football boots, running the parental taxi service, driving the family steam traction engine and teaching performing skills/vocal coaching at a local Rock School!

Melinda has also been pleased to appear for cancer charity fund raisers and even found time to complete the Playtex Moon Walk and Race for Life, alongside her middle sister Michele, raising thousands of pounds in memory of Sharon.

Through 2004/5, she had the privilege of working with some of the greats of British jazz, including John Dankworth, Roy Williams and, of course, Terry. In 2005, she secured a deal with an independent record company and she asked some of the musicians she had so much enjoyed singing with that year, to join her on an album of her favourite songs.

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