Paddy Blacker (OS 1961) recalls:

In the late fifties/early sixties, a small group of 5th and 6th Form pupils got together under the leadership of Sam (Peter) Spink to form a Traditional Jazz Band. Though we were not always that many, we called ourselves “The Ale House Eight” – simply because we liked the name.

We were given the privilege of being allowed to go to 1st dinner and afterwards to meet in the Latin room by kind permission of Bingo (Donald) Roberts whose room it was, so that we could use the piano. This poor unsuspecting instrument had its top and front removed each day in order to increase the sound output . Friends from the 6th form who were long-suffering and probably tone deaf used to come along to spectate.

The music master (Mr Verney) had lent to John Goddard the school trombone – a great honour- as it was a silver one. John Goddard was with the band for only one year before he left to join the RAF. His place was taken by Dave Whitely.

A few weeks from its formation the members of the band had sufficient chutzpah to perform in public. The first gig was at the Marple Baths where we played with much gusto but little applause. Other gigs followed usually at friends’ parties On one auspicious occasion we played at the Withington Golf Club. We were given a small fee and as much beer as we wanted. The club secretary later remarked that it would have been much cheaper to have doubled our fee and to have made us pay for our own beer.

The band disbanded on our leaving school, the final gig being at the Christmas Ball in the year that we left.

These are my recollections. With the lapse of nearly 60 years they may not be completely accurate so please forgive me. One thing I know for certain is that we had a whale of a time!

View photographs of the band in our Photo Gallery or here.

The members and their instruments were:

• Sam Spink (trumpet and leader)
• John Goddard (trumpet initially transitioning to trombone)
• Rick Salem (piano)
• Paddy Blacker (banjo/uke –> banjo àclarinet and occasional alto sax)
• Dave Whitely (trombone)
• Neville (William) Cheetham (drums)
• Ian Green (banjo and guitar)
• Keith McKinnon (clarinet)
• Gail Hardy (vocalist)
• Keith Vernon (manager)

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