I was very interested to read (Weekend, April 28) about the variety artists who have lived in Sussex, especially G H Elliott, The Chocolate Coloured Coon. In his later years, he became a patron of the Romanaires Variety Company, which was based at Southwick, not Saltdean as stated.

I was an active member of the Romanaires and can remember when Mr Elliott's widow donated the costumes to the Romanaires.

I wore one for my act - I was a magician. When the Romanaires disbanded, the costumes were donated to the Theatre Museum at Covent Garden, London. The one I used I donated to Ditchling Museum with one of Mr Elliott's original song sheets.

G H Elliott is buried at Rottingdean and his gravestone shows a stage with curtains drawn back. It bears the words: "The last curtain call for G H Elliott, The Chocolate Coloured Coon, who passed away November 19, 1962. Dearly loved, R I P."

-A E Ayres, Foredown Road, Portslade