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JANE EAGLEN

Dramatic soprano famed for her portrayals of Wagner’s heroines, and an avid cricket enthusiast.

The Royal Northern College of Music was and is a wonderful place to study music and, in my case, singing. It had some great teachers and facilities, and it had the great advantage of being in Manchester, home of Old Trafford Cricket Ground.

In my first year at college, I was so excited to be living in a place where first-class cricket was played that I was determined, no matter what, to see some matches.

The perfect opportunity was a One-Day International game, to see England play the old enemy Australia. I made my excuses to various classes that I was not feeling well, and off I went armed with a few sandwiches and water, and most important of all, some suntan oil, as the forecast was for a hot day.

The day was indeed hot, and the cricket excellent and absorbing, so I simply slathered on the oil and cheered England to a close victory. As I was there alone, I passed a few comments with people sitting close by, discussing the bowling and fielding and the unusually hot Manchester day.

I left Old Trafford happy to have seen a great game, and barely noticed that my arms and face were a little warm, and that children seemed to be pointing and looking scared in my general direction. I took the bus back to my hall of residence, and walked into the reception where a group of people were talking. Silence fell as I passed, so I smiled and carried on. As I walked past people in the corridor the same look of horror was evident, though still it didn’t occur to me why.