A VETERAN DJ has spun his last record.

Bill Wheeler, better known as Rockin’ Bill, has been playing classic records in Brighton since 1962 but now he has to call it a day because of poor health.

The 68-year-old, of Ninfield Place, Brighton, said: “I realised I didn’t have it in me to carry on.

“But I still love the music. I do miss it but I am not strong enough now.”

The rock ‘n’ roll DJ has spun his 1950s and 1960s vinyls at many pubs in Brighton including The Bat And Ball, The Prince Of Wales, The Brighton Tavern, The Queen’s Head and The Chequers.

Bill first set foot in a record shop when he was 12. Two of his haunts still exist today – The Record Album in Terminus Street and Wax Factor in Trafalgar Street.

With more than 50 years of music collecting under his belt, Bill has amassed 5,000 vinyl 33s and 45s.

He said: “I have always loved vinyl. I love the sound of it, the crackle.

“Vinyls are still the best recordings you can get. They will live on forever.”

With vinyl seeing a renaissance in recent times, he has advice to pass on: “Buy a nice record player, play your records and keep vinyl alive.”

Two other relics which will live on are jackets of Bill’s in Brighton Museum: a rocker jacket from 1964 and a Teddy Boy jacket from 1965.

He said: “I was chuffed to see them in there because they had Bryan Ferry’s jacket next to mine.”

Bill’s wife, Pam Wheeler, 63, met him in when he was playing music on the dodgems next to the Palace Pier in the 1960s but it was not until years later that they married.

When Pam’s previous husband was dying, they arranged to divorce so Pam could marry Bill. He was the best man at their wedding in April 1996.

Speaking of her rock ‘n’ roll husband, Pam said: “He always took requests and would bring a record the following week to play it. He made a lot of people very happy.”

“He has been going a long time and it’s the right time to stop.”

Bill has decided to sell his equipment, including his vast record collection.

For more information on the vinyl records, call Bill’s niece Dawn Lawson on 01273 684155.