Now it is the year 2012. It is ten years since my partner Stephen died, and I miss him still, but have adjusted to living alone, which isn't so bad; in fact it has a lot of advantages. I have cleared out rubbish and made space, got the house the way I want it, brought in television, lost some weight and devote all my time to my charities and other organisations. I do this almost to the exclusion of leisure time and have to force myself to take short UK holidays. But I am in near perfect health, full of energy and stamina, and enjoying my busy life enormously.

Compare the picture on the left, taken soon after buying my house in 1974. There was originally a centre bed of concrete, surrounding beds of weeds, the far end was a pile of corrugated iron and old doors. Now, in the right picture, it has a holly, cherry tree, mulberry tree, fruit, vegetables, salads, herbs and flowers.

I own the house next door as well, and the gardens are connected. Next door's is a bit sunnier than mine, so that's where the sweetcorn, tomatos and French beans live, while I have the salads and green vegetables that don't mind a bit of shade.

I'll show you round my house later. But first, this is how I spend a lot of my time, working voluntarily for charities: St John Ambulance and Casualties Union and performing in a Balkan music group, Dunav.

I am Superintendent of the No.1 City of London Division of St John Ambulance, and here I am on the left with other members practising casualty care at a training meeting.

Casualties Union is a charity of volunteers providing realism in training for rescuers, first aiders, paramedics and hospital staff. I run London Branch and the region covering the south-east of England, and Headquarters, and until 2010 I was Honorary General Secretary and a Trustee. This organisation takes up more of time than any of my other activities. Several times a week I am out and about being 'casualty' for a first aid exam or training exercise. We do a lot with the London Fire Brigade, both for their first aid exams and training in extricating victims from crashed cars. This in turn led me to become an Assessor for the UK Rescue Organisation through which Fire & Rescue teams compete in extrication skills.

We actually take our work quite seriously, because someone's life may ultimately depend on the quality of training we provide to emergency personnel or ordinary first aiders. So we aim for perfect realism in our simulation, both in make-up and in acting.

But when we meet up at Annual Conference and can relax at the evening disco party, sometimes in fancy dress, then seriousness goes out of the window. In 2006 we were 1960s, so I recalled flower power hippy times. I assure you the 'spliff' fag is imitation but it caused a waitress to ask me not to smoke in the restaurant. In 2007 at Newquay we went as pirates. I did a bit of theatrical ageing and character make-up learned from my mother, and even my closest friends did not recognise me until I spoke. It was not easy drinking soup through my false moustache.

The DUNAV BALKAN GROUP gives me huge pleasure because of my love of creating music, and my closest friends are members of it. We rehearse every Wednesday evening at my house to keep ready for concerts, playing at Balkan dance parties, weddings (we have even played at two funerals), and concert tours in Europe. We have been to Bulgaria several times, Romania, Makedonia and Turkey, playing our version of their music, and they have been generous with praise. To watch Dunav in action, go to the bottom of this page and watch the video.

Dunav was founded in 1964 and I joined them a few years later. For me some memorable highlights have been performances at the Royal Albert Hall, Jersey Opera House, Purcell Room at London's South Bank, the many concert tours in Europe and creating our own albums, originally an LP in 1981, then cassettes and the best items put on CD.

Another activity that I enjoy, though it does not take up much of my time, is helping to run SMOGS, the St Margaret's Old Girls' Society. I have their membership database on one of my computers, I created and maintain its website, and attend the annual reunions. I was happy at my school in Folkestone, the only one I ever went to, and delighted to keep in touch with old friends, and to facilitate Old Girls in other classes to do the same. Many have made it clear they appreciate this and love the website, so it gives me a lot of pleasure.

I was thrilled to meet my music teacher again after many decades. She did so much to bring out and develop my musical skills, which have served me well.

As the school closed in the 1960s our average age rises all the time and one day there will be just two of us left to have tea together before they close the society down. I wonder who it will be?
For more information go to www.smogs.org.uk

Here is my home: a simple little late Victorian terrace house in north-east London. I bought it in 1974 for under £11,000. Later I bought the one next door and they both have pale blue doors, like twins. I have friends living next door as tenants. It is close to an underground station, which we all find very convenient. There is also an overground railway and several bus routes, so I don't need a car and don't want one.

This video is the Dunav Balkan Group televised at a festival gala concert in Romania in 1993. Caroline is the accordionist in the bright blue skirt.

This is the view from my study window. When I bought the house in 1974 there used to be a hideous 1930s shirt factory across the road. This is much nicer.