SOME people might think 56 would be too old to learn a new skill.

But Whitchurch Hill resident Sally Bergmann doesn’t think so and this week she began learning to play the ukulele.

She was one of a number of budding musicians who took part in a ukulele for beginners lesson at West Oxford Community Centre on Thursday.

She said: “It is something I have always wanted to do so I decided to go along and have a go. If you want to start off having a bit of fun it seems like a good instrument to do it with.”

The lesson was run by Oxford-based ukulele teacher Jon Bennett – who charges £10 for the sessions and in this ‘taster’ he taught how to tune the instrument and play basic chords.

The ukulele – made famous by 1940s actor George Formby – originated in the 19th century as a Hawaiian interpretation of a Portuguese instrument taken to the island by immigrants.