After a 20-year musical interlude, Rick and Gill Croft are bowing out of the Brighton Violin Shop for a new life Down Under.

Rick was born in Sydney but moved to England to work as a merchant banker. Now, 45 years after he left Australia, he is going home.

Rick and his wife Gill have run the Brighton Violin Shop in Edward Street since 1983, supplying thousands of musicians with every kind of stringed instrument and accessory.

Rick said: "Now we've decided it's time to do something else - nothing."

Rick and Gill bought a house in Sydney 14 years ago with the intention of retiring there.

Rick said: "It is on a harbour north of Sydney harbour and behind it is 12 square miles of national park. The wildlife there is a sheer delight."

In recent years Rick and Gill have divided their time between the two hemispheres.

Rick said: "England and Australia are totally different lifestyles but the combination is quite perfect."

However, after so many years away, Rick is unsure what to call his real home.

"It depends on which test match is being played. Usually I just support whichever team seems to be winning."

Rick trained at the Conservatorium of Music in Sydney and, although he had a short spell as a professional musician, decided on a different career.

"I played professionally for a short time but I was also an accountant and I soon realised music didn't pay well."

He moved to England in 1958, worked as a banker in the City and later married Gill, head of personnel at Liberty's department store.

He said: "Years later I decided I wanted a change of career and a friend of mine who ran a similar business in Buckinghamshire convinced me I should open one in Brighton. At that time there wasn't a specialist violin dealer here."

Rick and Gill bought three shops in Edward Street and moved in, living above the new store.

As well as violins, they sold violas, cellos, double basses and guitars. They also introduced a repair and hire service.

Later, they added woodwind and brass instruments and opened a music school, which at one stage had seven teachers and several hundred pupils.

Over the years Rick and Gill have served millions of customers, from beginners to world-famous names.

Rick said: "Nigel Kennedy came to the shop on more than one occasion. He did this kind of jive talking and called me 'Monster' the whole time.

"Once he was appearing at Brighton College and, knowing he loves badges, I offered him one of ours which said 'I've passed grade one' as a joke.

"With great courtesy he declined it on the grounds he hadn't passed an exam in his life."

Rick also served theatre director Joan Littlewood, who used to visit Brighton to stay with her old friend Victor Spinetti.

"She was very elderly but full of life and full of memories."

Five years ago, the couple decided to start winding down and appointed a general manager to run the shop for them and free up more of their time.

Rick said: "I am 71 now and we have decided we have 'Been there, done it, bought the T-shirt' and therefore it is time to retire."

Rick said he would take some terrific memories of Brighton back Down Under.

However, the couple will not be severing all their ties with England and the city.

Rick said: "Our daughter Melody lives here and we have many friends here so we will come back regularly.

"I will miss the vibrancy of Brighton, there is so much going on here. But we have good friends and family in Australia too.

"This way we will get the best of both worlds."