JIMMY Noon entertained countless holidaymakers with his organ recitals at the Grand Ocean Hotel in Saltdean.

Guests would phone the former Butlins resort, where he worked as a Red Coat, to check he was still there before booking to return year after year.

Now, after more than 60 years of making music, he has decided to take his final curtain call and retire.

He and his wife Lynda, also a former Red Coat, are moving from their home in Rodmell Avenue, Saltdean, to Cornwall to be nearer their son and grandchildren but first they donated Jimmy's Hammond organ to the hotel as a lasting testament of his time there.

Guests

Jimmy, 84, said: "I've decided to retire because of my age. I know I am a lot older than most people when they retire, but every time I went the hotel always asked me back and I wanted to go because I loved entertaining the guests."

Stars like Jimmy Tarbuck and Des O'Connor, who are also former Red Coats, are counted among his personal friends and two years ago he even toured Albania with Norman Wisdom, who is apparently more popular than The Beatles there.

"I've loved my time playing the organ. I was there at some very important moments in people's lives, doing requests for birthdays, anniversaries and all sorts. It will be sad to say goodbye but I'm looking forward to spending more time with my grandchildren."

Jimmy taught himself how to play, bashing out a tune on a small harmonia when he was just four.

He said: "It was 1919. Someone asked me to play I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles and I did. I have played it many times since."

After touring in a double act with his brother in the Thirties, Jimmy performed for the troops as part of the Stars in Battle Dress Brigade during

the Second World War. This took him to both the Middle and Far East.

It was on his return from the war that he met and fell in love with Lynda, a ballerina, after she joined the team performing variety for what she thought would be only one night but ended up being the rest of her working life.

Happily married, the

couple were working for Butlins in Margate before coming to Saltdean for a one season in 1969. They never left and stayed on when it was taken over by the Grand Hotels chain.

Although he could play hundreds of popular tunes, Jimmy said the most requested song he played over the years was Bless 'em All.

He hopes to buy a small piano he can take with him to Falmouth.

Grand Ocean Hotel manager Jim Waldock said: "In many ways Jimmy is the Grand and he's certainly going to be a tough act to follow. It's the sort of dedication and enthusiasm he's shown over so many years that's an inspiration to us all."

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