In 1965, my brother's pop group, The Torpedos, who were all only about 12 years old, played at the very popular Florida rooms.

I got them an audition with top record producer in London, Joe Meek, who wrote and produced the hit Telstar by The Tornados.

I got the audition by a bit of deception. I phoned him from the phone box at Rotherfield Crescent and asked for an audition for the vacant drummer's job with The Tornados.

I was invited up to Holloway Road. I didn't have a clue where it was (I was 16). The cab driver guessed I didn't know where I was going, so I had a good tour of London - cost 17/6d.

I arrived at 304 Holloway Road and was introduced to the great man himself.

I was taken upstairs to a tiny studio. The only problem was I couldn't actually play drums. I tried to play I Feel Fine, the current Beatles hit.

It really was crash, bang, wallop. Once Mr Meek had calmed down, I told him why I wanted to meet him and he agreed to give my brother's group an audition. They travelled up to London and he liked them and even got them a full drum kit.

Alas, we moved to the Midlands at the end of March and that put an end to their ambitions but it was great fun at the time.

-Ian Steedman, Worthing