BILL O’Brien was in his fifties when he took up musical theatre just four years ago. And he loves it.

His only regret is that he didn’t do it sooner.

“If I could bottle the buzz that you get on stage from the company and from the audience and sell it, I’d be a multi-millionaire,” says Bill.

“As a young man I used to race cars. I used to get my buzz out of that. Now I get that same adrenalin rush out of being in shows,” he said.

His next is Oklahoma with Longwood Amateur Operatic Society which runs at the Lawrence Batley Theatre from October 2-6.

Bill lives in the Holme Valley with his wife of more than 40 years, Gena. They have a son and a daughter, five grandchildren and a great grandchild.

Originally from Liverpool, Bill had his own business by the time he was 22. Changing times and jobs brought him across the Pennines to work in Leeds.

Too many miles travelling motorways and a serious road accident made Bill look to another career change and he got more than that when a trip out into the more rural areas of Yorkshire selling Land Rovers to farmers introduced him to the delights of the Holme Valley.

“I thought it was a lovely place. We’ve lived here now for about 27 years and brought our family up here.

“It’s a nice valley. I lived in a city for long enough and I don’t want to do that now.”

Bill is well established in the area with both family and business settled here.

He runs a specialist surveillance technology business of which he is managing director and continues to have the energy and drive that has marked out a long and successful career.

Bill admits that he’s a can-do sort of person and every year he tries to find a new challenge.

“All through my life I’ve tried to continue setting myself goals, doing things I’ve never done before,” he said.

“A few years ago, I said I’d have a go at riding a horse. I loved it. I’ve driven racing cars, flown planes.”

So where does music come in?

“As a young man, I was privileged to go to Prescot Grammar School on Merseyside where I was taught by Edward Fielding-Kirk who was head of music. I played all sorts of instruments, tenor saxophone, clarinet and flute, sang in the choir and enjoyed music.

“Then I discovered girls, got married and that was the end of that.

“I’ve always had a love of music but not really done anything about it.

“One of my wife’s friends was a member of one of the societies in Huddersfield and we used to go and watch her in shows at the Lawrence Batley Theatre,” said Bill.

“Every year, we had the same conversation in the bar afterwards.

“We’d talk about the show and she’d say why don’t you come along and join the company. I just never got round to it.

“About four years ago, we went to see her in South Pacific with Longwood Amateur Operatic Society.

“It’s one of my favourite musicals. It was a lovely show. They did it beautifully.

“I watched everyone on stage and they all looked to be really enjoying what they were doing. I couldn’t believe the standard.

“I said, I’d love to do that.”

This time, Bill found himself taken up on that comment. “I got a phone call saying you’d better pick me up on Tuesday, you’re going to a rehearsal.

“I sat at the back of the singing rehearsal and the sound was just beautiful. They asked me what my voice was and I said that when I was a lad I was a tenor and before that I was a fiver!”

Not surprisingly, Bill has quickly made himself at home in the friendly ranks of Longwood. His bass voice, his stage presence and outgoing personality have made him a natural on stage.

“A couple of members took me under their wing and really looked after me.

“I’ve done a few shows now with Longwood and with other societies. I’ve watched the way people work together and you can’t beat it.”

So much so that when he’s not on stage, Bill is learning as much about stagecraft as he can by helping Longwood’s stage crews and those of other societies behind the scenes.

Theatre, it seems, can grab you at any age.

Box office is on 01484 430528.