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Jan Thompson married
Richard (Dick) Hillier on the 31th of January 2009 - and now they are
Jan and Dick Hillier! Jan has moved to Dick's home at Lakehaven
and has been performing in the Club Toukley RSL as a pianist during
luncheon and has received popular acclaim among the diners. |
About Jan
Thompson. Jan Thompson began her musical education at an early age in New Zealand. After completing her studies at Solway College in Masterton, she became a classical concert pianist. In 1964, Jan changed key and became a contemporary professional musician and entertainer. Then Jan met Howard, her partner in harmony, and in 1978 they moved to Sydney. They had everything in common - Howard too, was a first class pianist, but also was a first class recording engineer, an ability that he was able to put to good use in their partnership. The son of an English father and an American mother Howard grew up in Boston, Massachusetts. In the 1920s, after graduating from Boston Polytechnic, he made a name for himself as a professional pianist, playing with big bands on American radio and as a resident pianist at the Commodore Hotel in New York City. Howard returned to Britain in the 1930s and established a recording studio in London. "After serving in the Middle East during World War 2, I came to Australia and settled in Sydney", said Howard. "In September 1975,1 flew to New Zealand on business and there I met this fantastic pianist." "There was such an immediate rapport between us that a romantic marriage seemed inevitable." Three years later in January 1978, Jan and Howard moved to Sydney, finding ' life was a glorious song '. By June that same year, Jan had begun to establish herself as a popular highly regarded musician. She was appointed resident Pianist at North Sydney Beach Club, and was in demand at weddings and functions. The couple purchased a property at Lansvale and settled into their new, happy environment with great hopes for the future. Weeks later, however, Jan's career came to an abrupt end. While turning at an intersection on the Hume Highway a heavy truck lost control and hit her car. The ensuing year was a painful episode of time spent in and out of hospital, experiencing various treatments, manipulations under anesthetic, physical therapy, and rehabilitation procedures. Now, thanks to the love and encouragement of her husband Howard, the medical rapport of a specialist who began where others left off, there followed a long hard haul down the road to recovery, Jan is back at the keyboard and busy with a new facet of her career. "Life is wonderful again, I feel like a new woman", said Jan. "I have achieved what I was afraid I had lost forever when my career came to a full stop." Things gradually improved and Jan was able to play again. In 1984 she and Howard started on radio station 2CBA FM at 9pm every Wednesday night, this lasted until 1992. Jan and Howard had a very happy relationship with their wonderful music of albums and tapes giving lots of pleasure. Jan is a much sought after pianist playing at functions, social gatherings, nursing homes and retirement villages throughout metropolitan Sydney. Jan is an occasional pianist at Punchbowl Baptist Church. |
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To
Order CD's, contact |
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