TO The Houghton Weavers, being on stage is not just a matter of reconnecting with fans but treasuring every moment.

Each member of the band have had potentially fatal health scares and they all thought they may never see their audiences again.

Lead singer Tony Berry is recovering from throat cancer, David Littler had a triple heart bypass and Steve Millington was on life support for four days in 2013 after a brain haemorrhage.

Steve, who grew up in Thelwall, said: “We owe a lot to the NHS, we really do, and we’ve actually done a couple of gigs over in Lancashire for the Preston Royal Hospital.

“Because without them we’d have all been in a pretty bad way. We’re all in good health now and raring to go. Each one of us were right on the edge. My condition was really life threatening. We’ve all had quite a harrowing time but we’re all recovering and enjoying life.

“I’m grateful to everyone who helped us including the fans who have given us lots of support.”

The silver lining of these worrying times is that Tony’s brother Jim has now joined the band after helping the trio out during their darkest hours.

Steve, a former Lymm High School student, added: “He’s been filling in for us as each of us has been ill so we’ve decided to take him on as a full time member.

“It’s been going down well with the crowd and he’s been fantastic to work with. He goes back a long way with the band and he was in a folk group with David before the Weavers and I’ve known him for 20 years.”

The folk band are now on their Christmas tour, a tradition they have kept going for around 35 years.

The festive performances actually stemmed from their BBC TV show Sit Thi Deawn which saw them perform in pantos at the height of their popularity.

They soon tired of playing the likes of Robin Hood and Little John but the special atmosphere of being on stage at Christmas was something they could not get enough of.

Steve, who has a studio at his home in Northwich, added: “We have a lot of fun and put a few Christmas features into it. We always look forward to it as it’s different to the shows throughout the year. We can let our hair down and have a laugh with the audience.”

As part of the tour, The Houghton Weavers will be at the Pyramid on Friday. They will also be on on Radio Lancashire on Christmas Day as part of John Gilmore’s Intimate Christmas show which airs from 1pm to 2pm.

Steve said: “I love coming back to Warrington as some of my family come to the show. It’s always great to be back because it’s only three miles from where my mum still lives now.”

Many fans have followed the Weavers through the decades but Steve says the resurgence of folk music, thanks to bands like Bellowhead, has also meant they are seeing many new faces at shows.

Steve, who has produced for the likes of Peter Kay, added: The folk scene has never been better. It’s really healthy with a lot of young, new acts coming up. We’re also getting younger people at our concerts. I’m lucky because I work with lots of different bands and genres in the studio which keeps me fresh. I’ve been working with Myth of Unity who are a hip hop and rap band who have a lot of potential. It’s a really exciting time. There’s lots of breaking acts coming through.”

Steve found he had a natural talent for music when he was just six at his grandmother Annie’s house in Stockton Heath.

He said: “My grandmother had a piano in the backroom. It was actually called the ‘best room’ in those days – you only went in on Sunday and the best china was in there. I shouldn’t have been in there but I went in and started playing the piano. I started playing tunes and my mum and dad, Geoff and Anne, came in and said: ‘How do you know that?’ I just played television themes by ear. They said we must get you piano lessons and that’s how it started really.”

After doing his grades he switched to organ and his first break was at The Star in Lymm when he was 14.

Steve added: “That was my first plunge into show business and that’s what really gave me confidence. I played there every week for a couple of years. I’d learn two or three new tunes every week and they’d all be singing along with me on the Hammond organ.”

The Houghton Weavers will be at the Pyramid on Friday at 7.30pm. 

Click here for tickets.