A 90-year-old great-grandmum has become Britain’s 'oldest female drummer’ - after getting lessons from one of Simply Red's original members.<br /><br />Barbara McInnis felt like she was 'rolling back the years' thanks to her tutor Chris Joyce, 66, who starred in the legendary pop group from 1985-1991.<br /><br />The retired head teacher admitted she wasn’t familiar with Simply Red when she first booked lessons with the famous percussionist six months ago.<br /><br />But she’s since been influenced by Chris’s playing - whose work features on the band's hit singles ‘Holding Back the Years’ and ‘If You Don’t Know Me By Now’.<br /><br />Widowed great-grandmum-of-ten Barbara, who is now in three different groups, said drumming had brought “genuine joy” back into her life.<br /><br />She said: “It’s helped me roll back the years… It’s given me a new lease of life, a new interest, which I think is good at my age. It’s keeping me young.<br /><br />“It has brought genuine joy back into my life, and I think it has removed a few wrinkles.<br /><br />“I was brought up on classical music, I was more interested in Messiah, and a bit of Fauré, and choral society work. I wasn’t really interested in modern pop stuff. <br /><br />“Then I found Simply Red, but I’m ashamed to say it didn’t really mean a lot to me.<br /><br />“Of course, I listen to it now. I’m a cross between Chris [Joyce] and Ringo Star - but I’m not after Ginger Baker.”<br /><br />Barbara, who lives in Morecambe, Lancs., said she decided to take up drumming in her late 80s after she dabbled with percussion instruments in her local Ukulele band.<br /><br />But she was stunned to find gold and platinum records lining Chris's walls when she first visited his studio, close to the town's seafront. <br /><br />When she later learned that he'd played in one of Britain’s most successful pop bands, she admitted to feeling ‘nervous’ about getting behind the kit.<br /><br />But Barbara has come on leaps and bounds under his expert tutelage and now loves to play along to rock and pop classics - from Chuck Berry to The Beatles.<br /><br />She said: “When I looked at all these gold, platinum records, I felt in awe. <br /><br />"And I was very nervous the second time I came for a lesson. I felt, ‘Oh my goodness me’. And I was really shy. <br /><br />“But he’s a great tutor, he starts you absolutely from scratch. Within a week or two, providing you practice, it’s amazing what you can do.”<br /><br />“I like [to play to] Octopus’s Garden, that’s one of my favourites - and Johnny B. Goode.”<br /><br />Chris said Barbara - known as Babs - was one of his best students and felt her commitment to learning a new instrument was inspirational.<br /><br />He said: “She’s a great student because what she does is go away and practice what I show her, which is all you can ask any student to do.<br /><br />“Babs often sends me videos with what she’s up to with her practice for me to review and comment on.<br /><br />“At her age, it’s inspiring for me and it’s inspiring for a lot of people that she’s so enthusiastic and has so much energy.”<br /><br />Chris, who grew up in Manchester and has also played in the bands Pete Wylie and The Mighty Wah! And DoveTales, still fondly remembers his time in Simply Red.<br /><br />He said: “It was incredible, it was very memorable. I reached a stage that I’d been working towards for many years, as an up-and-coming musician. <br /><br />“I’ve travelled in the back of a transit van and pushed it along the road - to travelling in luxury as well, doing amazing concerts all around the world and big tours. <br /><br />“I’ve experienced all levels of the music industry.”<br /><br />Barbara currently plays with three groups: D'Ukes of Lancaster Ukulele Band, Morecambe Ukulele Club and Garstang Ukulele Group.<br /><br />And Chirs encouraged anyone taking up the drums to begin playing with bands as soon as possible - while also sharing three pieces of wisdom.<br /><br />He said: “The first thing is to turn up on time, turn up sober, and make sure you get along with people. <br /><br />“Sometimes it’s the people who’ve got the best attitude, and not necessarily the best players, that get along well.”
