Alfie Thomas plays the accordion and keyboards, sings backing vocals, and composes. Alfie was born in Middlesbrough to Belgian and Cockney parentage. He is a Soho resident and is part of the Society of Imaginary Friends.
What is your age?
60
Where do you live?
London
What do you do?
I am half of a creative partnership called the Society of Imaginary Friends, we write, record and perform music together, we write music for film and we hold two Soirees a month in Ealing and WoodGreen featuring the extraordinary talent of London’s population our Ealing Soiree is held at the office where I work as a support worker for disabled people and their carers it is fully inclusive and inspiring. I have a boat on the river Thames which I escape too when my central London life gets too much.
Tell us what it’s like to be your age?
It is a mixture of feeling more relaxed and more urgent. I feel very involved in the current state of our city and country and world and try to reflect this in everything I do. I am starting to discover new things about myself that were hidden or lost and this is very exciting but quite challenging.
What do you have now that you didn’t have at 25?
A history!… An understanding of human nature and a healthy scepticism but a relaxed love of the moment.
What about sex?
Sex is getting better all the time.
And relationships?
I am blessed with a gorgeous, intelligent, talented Goddess as my girlfriend, I don’t know what I have done to deserve this but it’s brilliant and she never ceases to surprise and amaze me.
How free do you feel?
It depends what time of day or what time of year it is but generally because I feel closer to understanding myself I feel freer than I have ever felt before.
What are you proud of?
Proud of my music, I am proud of my children’s and my girlfriend’s resilience to the challenges of this world and our capacity to stay true to ourselves.
What keeps you inspired?
Humanity, my extraordinary clients… carers who have given everything to look after a family member completely selflessly. Beethoven and Shostakovich.
When are you happiest?
On stage, by the sea, composing. Walking the streets of Clerkenwell with Louise.
And where does your creativity go?
Into the ether.
What’s your philosophy of living?
Be kind to each other, be truthful, live adventurously but don’t be naive.
And dying?
When I die there are a number of people that I am really looking forward to meeting and seeing again and others that I am going to be having some firm words with, generally I think it’s going to be a fantastic party over the other side these words will come back to haunt me!!
Are you still dreaming?
Of course I am, my girlfriend and I always discuss our dreams her dreams are more lucid than mine, I can usually tell my psychological state by what I have dreamt the night before so it’s a handy indicator.
What was a recent outrageous action of yours?
Putting my middle finger up at a motorcade as they passed my car which I presumed to be our Prime minister but was later told by a police motorcyclist that it was the president of China and he was very upset! The policeman let me off with a caution as he was unhappy with our Prime minister as well..
