The place to be years ago was the Regent Ballroom in Brighton on a Friday night, dancing to Syd Dean and his band.

A main solo feature was drummer Sammy Bryant playing Louie Bellson's Skin Deep. For this, the dancers would crowd around the bandstand while Sammy performed.

Some brave couples would actually try to dance to it.

In the early days of colour television, an audience was invited and duly assembled at the Talk of the Town in London, for the making of a jazz programme.

Among the crowd were celebrated drummers Jack Parnell, Phil Seaman and Eric Delaney, all there to see master percussionist Buddy (Bernard) Rich and his swinging new big band.

Sammy and a few friends were also there to marvel at his idol.

-Roy Jameson, Keymer Avenue, Peacehaven