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No one appears to have mentioned that, the Great Western Railway into Birmingham, was initially broad gauge..........................Or have they ???

In Great Western Railway days.

Wonderful memories Roy. Winter, or cold days, we would play football with whoever produced the tennis ball. The covered veranda posts being the goalposts. In the summer, the veranda posts became the wicket, but still with the same type tennis ball. Although I had breaks away from the school, I...

Last evening I watched the TV story of the more private life of Bob Monkhouse, which brought back a few memories. During the early 1950's, and into the 60's, and a few times in later years, between playing in ballrooms, and jazz clubs, I would often be called to play at a working mans club...

I love that Maurice. Wonderful story. Yes, I agree. In the traditional dress suit, or as we sometimes referred to it , the 'Penguin Suit', we did feel like the waiters at some of the functions we played at. To have a different mode of dress, I have to say, did make us feel different. When we...

During the early 1950's, in my musical career, a 'Dress Suit' was an automatic necessity in any musicians wardrobe. No dress suit, no gig. Initially I improvised with a dark jacket, and dark trousers, but would always get 'the look' from other musicians in the band. On my 21st birthday, one of...

Lovely story, Maurice/

W Maurice, What is not generally well known is that Charlie Watts, when not playing with the Rolling Stones, is a great jazz fan. A few year's ago, Charlie formed a big band, playing all the great jazz numbers, with himself on drums. Around 1980, I had a meeting with Kenney Jones, the...

Some photographs from a day with my then girlfriend,at Dudley Zoo, 1954. I have never been back since, and no doubt everything has completely changed, especially the animal welfare. Eddie

Just listened to the singing of Ronnie Hilton on the Graham Norton Saturday morning radio show. The record was "A Windmill In Old Amsterdam". Pure commercial stuff, recorded around the mid sixties, and a hit for Ronnie. I was reminded that Ronnie had a few hits around the fifties and sixties...

Thank you very much, Maurice. Wonderful music and memories. Three incredible musicians. Although I first met Oscar Peterson in Berlin, I met up with him again, in Toronto, at a music fair. He was a very charming man. Martin Drew was very particular about his cymbals, having spent hours...

In my professional career I was often at some jazz festival or other, mainly in Europe, or the States. Drummers have a great reputation for mutual respect, and admiration, and we would meet up back stage for a chat, a drink, or a meal. Photo One: Martin Drew, a very fine English drummer, and...

From : Birmingham Snow Hill Station, by Derek Harrison

Today we were discussing teeth problems, and I recounted how, when we were children, and if we had an aching, or loose tooth, usually 'milk' teeth, one of the solutions was to wrap strong cotton around the tooth, and tie the other and to the door knob ! I cannot recall whether this ever worked...

Hello CHINCH, I have no idea of any names. My sister and I were only placed in there for six weeks. We were not really orphans. Our father was away, fighting, and our mother had been diagnosed with Scarlet Fever, and taken to hospital. Because the disease is contagious, our relatives were...

On Tuesday, we lost a very dear friend. Margaret Williamina (Willi) Zildjian. Willi was the wife of Robert (Bob) Zildjian. To most of the folk on the BHF, the name does not mean much, but in the world of drums, it is arguably the most famous on the planet. What Rolls Royce is to motoring...

Gutters could be fun. Going to school, and back home, often twice a day, I once found a penny lying in the gutter. I then started to keep an eye out for coins in the gutter. It literally paid off, I did find a 'threpennybit', and a sixpence on other occasions. I suspect they may have been...

On 1937 I had my one first brief view of the sea. My mother had taken me down to Porthcawl to see my father, who was down there with the Territorial Army, Did not visit the seaside again for another eleven years. I have to admit that I cannot recall attempting to dam a river flow, but I...

Hi Bob, John Steel was one of our Premier drum endorsers, in the sixties and seventies. Somewhere in a great pile of drum related material, I have photographs of John. Must dig them out. Many of those groups that were at the forefront, during the British domination of popular music, have...

Just read the passing of pianist/singer Al Jarreau, aged 76. Had a brief chat to him, many years ago, at a music trades exhibition in Los Angeles. A very talented musician. He won Grammies for jazz, popular music, and rhythm & blues. I understand that he had retired after fifty years of...