What may or may not have been the longest running (with a recent small break) lunchtime session on Tyneside wraps up on Christmas Eve. The Porthole, near North Shields ferry landing, has featured the Jazz Esquires in various formats for many years. Currently led by ex Squadronaires drummer Laurie Brown, the band has seen many of the area's top names pass through its ranks including Arthur Mowatt, Tommy Moran, Joe McMullen, Stan Martin, Eric Pollard, Dave Weisser, Ian Trewella (whatever happened to him?) to mention but a few. Sitters in included Eric Delaney (!), George Laing, Deena Wilde (Get Carter), Teresa Armstrong - our own Ann Alex even warbled the occasional tune - so sad to see this waterfront hostelry sink - and with it a lot of riverside history.
Here's an idea, why don't we all go down on Xmas eve (1pm) and give the guys a great send off?
Lance.PS: The pub itself winds up on January 4.
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In the days when Munro Sutherland ran the band on a Tuesday evening, I used to dep occasionally for Derek Dixon. In fact I bought his old black bass which had been "rescued" from the Opera House in Algiers in 1941 - but that's another story. It was great to have the immaculately dressed George Evans quietly ask if "you gentlemen would mind if I sat in?"
Hughie Aitchison played great, restrained, trumpet, I think Bob Coulson was on piano and Lennie Sampson on trombone and Brylcreem.
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