Stephen Dunn -fired up by music at The Old Fire Station

It’s an impression many must come away with. He’s energetic, constantly smiling, pleased to see you and frequently laughing.

And he has great enthusiasm for the Carlisle arts venue he runs, the Old Fire Station. He’s clearly in his element there, and keen to show you round.

The inside is decorated with posters from previous and forthcoming acts – music, comedy and theatre – while upstairs there’s a gallery showcasing the work of local artists.

Outside the front is bedecked with old photos of firefighters and fire engines, reflecting its history.

Most striking is the huge mural of a firefighter created by Dutch artist Tymon De Laat, and the largest piece of street art in the city. “Aberdeen and Bristol make a huge deal of their street art,” he points out. “It’s something that helps attract visitors.”

And Stephen has an idea for the fire station’s tall tower, inspired by the Oxo Tower on London’s South Bank, which bears the word OXO in huge capital letters. “We could have OFS. But that’s something for the future.”

Can Stephen account for his cheerfulness and energy? He puts it down to the 1966 World Cup.

Stephen was born in June that year – so turns 53 next month – and was weeks old when England won.

“I was thrown in the air, and in the excitement no-one caught me, so I bounced on the couch.

“I’ve been bouncing ever since.”

Another of the characteristics of that decade that has stayed with him is the music. He’s been singer, songwriter and guitarist with various groups over the years – most recently with trio The Postcard Band - and lists as his influences The Jam, The Specials, The Housemartins and some of the girl groups from the 1960s such as The Shirelles and The Supremes.

But none of them had as big an impact on Stephen as the most famous band of that or any decade.

“I grew up listening to The Beatles. That was where I first discovered melody and harmony. They were the biggest influence by a million miles.”

And music has been central to his life ever since. “I went through all the usual ambitions, of footballer and astronaut. But I started writing things down when I was about eight, in verse form. I’d have the words first and then I’d try to find a melody for them.

“It was hard to get a left-handed guitar then– so I nicked my sister’s and put the strings upside-down.”

Left-handedness is something he shares with Jimi Hendrix. But he reckons that’s where the similarity ends. “I’m a strummer, I’m not a technical guitarist.”

It’s through music that Stephen ended up as arts officer with Carlisle City Council and in charge of the Old Fire Station. He describes the route he took there.

His first job after leaving school was at a coal yard on London Road. “I occasionally had to drive a train or operate a crane. I didn’t learn to drive a car until I was in my 30s!”

But after a year of that - equipped with some songs, a guitar and a good voice - he decided to make a serious go of the music. There were a few bands before the seminal The Daisychain Connection formed.

“We had a lot of interest from record companies. MCA arranged for us to record a demo in Manchester, where The Smiths recorded.

“Paul Heaton from The Housemartins wanted us to be their support, but the record company wanted The Farm.”

Success seemed assured. Then there was a tragedy. “Pete Mitchell, our bass player, died in a house fire.

“I would say he was my best mate. It took me a long time to get over that.”

There was also the mercurial nature of the industry. “Dance and rave music were coming up, and record companies wanted that.

“We supported The Beautiful South at The Sands Centre three times, and Runrig a couple of times. But it wasn’t the same after Pete died.

“I had a family by then and life got more serious.” He had two stepdaughters, Becky and Holly, and a son, Eden, with first wife Liz. With second wife Nell he has another two stepdaughters, Lily and Evie.

Stephen used his music experience in a number of roles afterwards. Running songwriting sessions with adults with learning difficulties proved therapeutic for them.

Later he worked for Carlisle Youth Service with “hard to reach” youngsters. “Sometimes it was just boredom that was the cause.

“But the most challenging were children and young people who had suffered abuse. There were some really tragic stories and situations.

“Songwriting, they felt listened to.”

Then came a role with the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership based in the Civic Centre – tackling prevention rather than cure.

The city council had the vision of a new arts centre for the city. And it didn’t have to pay for a building.

The Old Fire Station was owned by Cumbria County Council, who were looking for a site for a new office at the time. So they swapped it for the city council’s car park off Botchergate.

Not everyone was convinced of the case for an arts centre and Stephen admits: “There was lot of criticism. There are things a lot more important.

“But the arts matter too. Without them life is just a bit grey. And the more we offer in the city, the more it becomes a destination for visitors.”

It didn’t get off to a good start. It opened in 2015. Later that year Storm Desmond flooded it with eight feet of water. However Stephen reflects: “In a way it had a positive effect. It meant we had to stop the bus and start again. We came back with a much better venue.”

He adds: “There were worries we would take away from other venues, but we are less than half the size of The Sands Centre. There’s huge demand. We have to turn down about 40 shows a month.”

Performers they have been able to accept have included comedian Reginald D Hunter, poet John Cooper Clarke and musicians such as Black Grape, The Inspiral Carpets, Pete Doherty and Peter Hook, bassist with New Order – among many others.

What about Stephen’s early influence Paul McCartney? “Not yet!”

Tomorrow night it hosts Kyle Falconer of Scottish band The View, and later this month comedian Justin Moorhouse, and US band Wheatus, play.

And you can catch The Postcard Band at Warwick Bazaar in Carlisle on June 8 and The Yellow Earl in Whitehaven on June 21 before they play Kendal Calling in July.

Stephen describes their sound as “The Housemartins meets Madness meets happy Smiths”.

Is there such a thing as happy Smiths?

“There is now!”