Marvin B Naylor is a musician, aged 48, and lives in Greenhill Road, Winchester.

For 30 years he made a living playing in rock groups, but had to give up last August when he developed problems with his hearing, and could no longer play in loud groups. Unable to get another job, he turned to busking on the streets, first in Southampton, and then in Winchester.

He started to keep a diary, he says, to recall some of the interesting people he meets during his ‘sessions’. Below are some extracts from it. And, by the way, he says he’s available for weddings, birthdays and Bar Mitzvahs too!

December 10: After a month of no busking, I decided to start again… got my Micro Cube (very small amplifier) and guitar and do a session opposite WH Smith.

Winchester’s a small town and after 10 minutes I heard “Nice sound, Marvin”. It was a friend of my neighbour’s.

Earnings: £10.12

December 15: I may tape a sign to my hat: ‘NO FOREIGN COINS, PLEASE’, as I have had a couple chucked in, including a 50 Forint coin. After research, I discovered it’s from Hungary and worth 26 US cents; but worthless to me, as the banks will not change coins.

Earnings: £11.22

December 23: Had to hang around for an hour before a spot became vacant. Salvation Army quartet in front of the Christmas tree, Rob the American rock guitar guy sporting fingerless gloves (he’s a lucky so and so), another Salvation Army sub-group and some guy sitting down hitting a very small drum or lidded coffee cup in an entirely random manner. The police have let the ‘traditional’ beggars stay, as long as they are seen to be ‘playing’ something — so they’re not just sitting there begging.

Earnings: £8.02

New Year’s Eve: A nice old lady asks if she could buy a CD: “I could listen to you all day”. Maybe she should talk to the girl at the desk at Clinton Cards. She HAS been listening to me all day. She might change her mind after hearing The Third Man for the 50th time.

Earnings: £46.48

January 2: Got harassed by a gang of 14- 15 year olds. Their leader: “Do you know any...” (he names 10 bands I’ve never heard of). I say “No” to all. “Know any Jimi Hendrix?” It’s his lucky day and he gets a four-second burst of Purple Haze. As they leave, the one at the back turned and said: “Nice sound, man,” very quietly, so no-one else would hear, I suspect.

Earnings: £22.06

January 27: Then, one of the best moments of my life... It’s The Third Man again, and there is a man in his late 20s sitting on the bench, opposite eating a packed lunch and tapping his foot to the tune. This pleases me. I finish playing, he gets up, comes over and says this: “You know, you made me smile just then, and I never do that — my life is so bloody awful. You made me smile, that never happens with you lot. But you entertained me. I’m not making this up!). He put a £2 coin in my hat. I didn’t know what to say. “I’m sorry, I hope it gets better soon. What’s your name?” “It doesn’t matter”, he said, and walked off.

Earnings: £19.30

For more extracts, see this week's Hampshire Chronicle, out now. For more on Marvin, go to his website - www.diaryofabusker.com