Barry Jones

Barry Jones, 24, was 9 years old when his class at Mosspits Junior School, Liverpool, produced a record 'Guiding Star' to raise funds for the local branch of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). He was part of the choir that sang the song specially written by Marvin Sumner.

Barry, from Knotty Ash, Liverpool, has donated his copy of the 45 vinyl record for the eight hundred lives project.

He remembers:

"Our teacher Mrs Lovgreen played the piano and we rehearsed and recorded the song in the school assembly hall. It was during the summer and it was quite exciting for the whole choir. It had a big effect on me, helping get me into music from an early age. I learned to play the guitar, drums and keyboards and am now part of a local band - but I bet most people can't say that they've released a record by the age of 9!

My mum and gran bought copies of the record and I recently found this one up in the loft. It brought back a lot of memories as I had forgotten all about it. I thought it would be nice for the museum to have - especially as the NSPCC was started in Liverpool"

The Liverpool Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

The Liverpool Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the forerunner of the NSPCC, was set up on 19 April 1883 by Thomas Agnew, a Liverpool banker, with the help of Liverpool MP Samuel Smith.

Thomas had been impressed by the work of the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and was determined to help the many children in Liverpool facing immense levels of deprivation and poverty at the time. In its first year the Society dealt with 211 cases in which 378 children were helped.

Accession number for the record MMM.2004.111