A YOUNG musician from Sale has composed the music to go with a special Christmas poem written by a youngster from Oxfordshire.

The poem entitled 'A child who has never experienced Christmas' was written by Abingdon schoolgirl Joanna Probert and tells a tale of a war-affected Christmas.

Now it has been put to music thanks to 17-year-old Ben Gaunt and both got to hear the world premiere at a performance at St. Paul's Church in Sale recently.

Flautist Ben began work on the composition in summer after the husband of his flute teacher spotted the poem.

And it took 11 weeks to put the words to music but Ben says it was great to hear his completed work performed live.

He tells Messenger: "I have been involved in writing music before when I won a competition at school in 1998, but this is the first time I have done something as big as this.

"It has taken a while but it is something that has given me a lot of joy and it was great to hear the special wind band re-arrangement at St. Paul's."

Ben, who is currently doing his A-levels at Sale Grammar School, says music has always been a passion for him and to be involved in such a project has made him hungry for more.

He adds: "This has been a really poignant project - especially as it relates to war and Christmas - and I hope that I have done the poem justice.

"It has made me want to write more music though and I hope one day to join the ranks of some of the great composers."

David Pye