'I met my wife while searching for old spectacles and it inspired a song'

A search for some antique spectacles in a clothes shop in 1990 is the unlikely inspiration of a new song - and all about a future wife.

Singer-songwriter Dominic Crane met the woman he would go on to marry in Hountons, a retro clothing shop in Moseley, Birmingham and has now turned their story into a song called 'So Moseley'.

Speaking of the encounter to BBC Radio WM, he said: "The thing about her is she wasn't in the slightest bit impressed with what I did or who I associated with, which I loved."

Crane has been making music for more than four decades, sharing stages with artists including George Ezra and Sharon Corr.

Recalling how they met, he said he had gone into the shop looking for a pair of antique spectacles.

"When I walked into the shop, I had already had a tip off from a friend who said you need to go in there, there is a lovely lady in there, you will absolutely love her," he remembered.

"I went in and there she was behind the counter, and sure enough I thought she was absolutely gorgeous."

They eventually went on a date and moved in together, before getting married, having three children and now with a granddaughter as well.

Crane admitted his family also has an unexpected connection - to TV presenter Alison Hammond.

His wife managed the Birmingham branch of Shared Earth and gave Hammond some of her earliest presenting experience, by recommending her to front a promotional video for the company.

In his professional career, Crane has opened for Mike & The Mechanics, George Ezra, Nick Heyward, Sharon Corr, Ian MacNabb, Roachford, JP Cooper, Peter Wylie and David McAlmont.

More recently, he said he found himself stepping in to perform at a Premier League footballer's wedding after Ed Sheeran had to cancel at short notice.

But despite sharing stages with famous names and collecting stories from across the music business, it is that chance encounter in a Moseley clothes shop that has provided the inspiration for his latest release.

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