After Dinner Speakers: James Galway, Alan Titchmarsh, Tony Alessandra

b. 8 December 1939, Belfast, Northern Ireland. The future president of the British Flute Society inherited his woodwind skills from his paternal grandfather. Progressing from mouth organ and penny whistle, Galway's victories in all three classes of the Irish Flute Championships at the age of 10 led to a place in the Belfast Youth Orchestra and his first BBC broadcasts. A brief spell as a trainee piano tuner preceded scholarships at London's Guildhall School of Music and then the Paris Conservatoire - where he supplemented his grant by busking on city subways. From the rank-and-file at Sadlers Wells, he rose to become principal flautist with the Berlin Philharmonic in 1969. Six years later, manager Michael Emerson suggested he go solo. While averaging 120 concerts per annum, his award-winning recordings of Mozart and Vivaldi paralleled a more financially rewarding venture into pop in the late 70s which culminated with three hit albums and, also in 1978, an international smash with an arrangement of John Denver's "Annie's Song". As well as two more bestselling albums, Galway has written his autobiography, recorded an album (Sometimes We Touch) with Cleo Laine and two with the Chieftains, and undertaken world tours to full houses.