Taken from Smash Hits Circa 1981 - Some Mothers...

In the second in our revealing new series, The Mums Behind The Music, Virginia Turbett journeys deep into the heart of Sausage City (Swindon) to the home of the Partridge Family. Proffering Penguins and plates of crab sarnies, Vera Partridge lifts the lid on Andy and XTC.

"Ohh, it was terrible when it all started. I used to threaten to turn off the electricity every time he played his guitar. It was so loud. I did turn it off a few times.

"Sometimes Colin (Moulding) would come around and I wouldn't answer the door. Or if I did, I'd say Andrew wasn't home.

"His hair was so long. I hated it. One day I came into the room and saw this young man sitting there. I didn't know who it was and I kept telling him 'Andy'll be in soon'. After about half an hour this young man stood up and said 'Mum, don't you recognise me?' He'd had his hair cut.

"The doctor came here one day and wanted to have a look at the Gold Disc on the wall; he'd only seen one on telly. For a joke I told him I charged 10p for a look. After he'd gone I found 10p on the table. It was only meant as a joke but since then I've tried it with two different insurance men; one he'd left 50p and the other left 70p. I give it to the deaf children I look after."

Has Mrs P. ever seen XTC?

"No, I've never seen them. My husband was a drummer for 20 years. Really, I've had enough."

Ah-ha! A musical family?

"On, no. I don't play anything; only the fool."

I take my leave while Andy does a ventriloquist act with a tea cosy and Mrs. P. stuffs another Penguin in my pocket.

"There's a a few pop stars come from Swindon, you know," she add. "Diana Dors, Gilbert O'Sullivan. You should go and see him and his mum!"

(Simon's note for worried foreigners; Penguin is a brand of Chocolate biscuit.) (... oh, and "sarnies" are sandwiches)

All original work is acknowledged as being the copyright of the originator.