The Road to Hong Kong with Colin Aitchison - Part Two.

Q: Obviously Hughie, your dad, was a big influence on you not just playing-wise but in what you listened to.

A: Dad used to have a very big 78rpm collection with just about everyone - Muggsy Spanier’s Great 16, Eddie Condon, Count Basie etc. I grew up listening to all of these greats. He was a French Polisher at Swan Hunters' Shipyard and times did get hard with the strikes and other things. Sadly, he had to sell off a huge part of his collection to make ends meet.  Later, with the arrival of vinyl, his interest was mainly with Duke Ellington. They do say that he had the largest Duke Ellington collection in the North East. I can still picture him sitting sitting in his armchair and playing along with Cootlie Williams and Ray Nance. I have warm memories of him tuning in to the "Voice of America" presented by Willis Conover. Again, through this influence I got to understand the magic of Ellington and grew up knowing most of the personel on his recordings.

Q: We know you've now been resident band leader at Ned Kelly’s in Kowloon for many years. How many exactly?

A: I started at Ned's part time just as a dep musician and bandleader in 1993, I became full time in 1997. So we are looking at 18 years now, full time.  I have the honour of being the longest serving bandleader at Ned Kelly's. I wonder if I will get a Long Service Medal?

Q: Prior to that you played at holiday camps and on cruise ships before you arrived at where you are now. Can you tell me more about those times?

A: It has been a diverse and interesting playing career, I must say. I left the North East in 1976 when I was 21.  My first professional job was a summer season with  The Gene Mayo Sound (Pictured)
at Pontin's Seacroft Holiday Camp at Hemsby, Great Yarmouth. When that was over, I joined the band with Chipperfield's Circus. It was a hard blow - I remember muddy Newbury Race Course, 7 hour rehearsals in cold tents  and bleeding lips.

Needless to say, that did not last too long. After 6 months I decided to go for stability and something more musically rewarding.  I spotted and ad in  Melody Maker for a trumpet player at Pontin’s Camber Sands, East Sussex.  This was a major turning point in my life.

The bandleader was Steve Stephenson who had made a name for himself with big  bands during the war years in East Anglia. In fact he had won quite a few Melody Maker competitions in the 1940's.  He formed his show band in the 60's and recorded a few tracks for Decca.

I went for the audition on my day off and recall having to sight read, and play by ear, a number of standards and some ballroom dancing songs. I remember having to play the Spanish Gypsy dance.  At the end it must have been  nervousness as my trumpet sound had an uncontrolled vibrato. I was sure that I had failed the test. After that I had to spend a couple of hours just waiting ... and waiting and waiting. I was praying that I would get the job. When Steve called a couple of hours later, his gruff words of "well son, when can you start?" were the seven most beautiful words I had ever heard.

Steve was a tough, no nonsense bandleader but he could read the crowd and gave the audience what they wanted.  As it was a show band, it was not just playing - we had to sing, dress up, and take part in comedy routines. Being one of the younger band members, Steve took me under his wing and I gradually lost my shyness. I would dare say it was Steve who moulded me into what I am today. It was a popular band with frequent road trips and one nighters. We played several summer seasons at the holiday camps and off season dates were filled with gigs in various areas and the big London hotels, It was through Steve that I managed to meet some famous stars like Matt Monroe, Roy Castle, Leslie Crowther, Bert Weedon, Joe Loss, Sir John Mills (pictured) and Dame Vera Lynn.

I was with Steve from 1977 through to 1986 and it was Steve who nudged and encouraged me to move on. Perhaps he knew that he was going to pack up soon too.  We kept in touch and I did visit him on my trips to England. Sadly he passed away a few years ago.  I am still in touch with his wife Pat, and even managed to stay with her for a couple of days on my visit back last year. We enjoy reminiscing about the good old days of the band. 

Colin Aitchison.

(To be continued...)

Link to Part One.