RIP Lavinia Luke

(Photo by Jessie Holmes)

Received the sad news that a former schoolmate, Lavinia Luke, has died. We were in the same class at Jarrow Central School and, because we had the same initials and first names that were different from the Peter, Paul, Mary and Margaret names that were the norm, we had an affinity - that's all I hasten to add (boo-hoo!).

So what has this to do with BSH? Well, her dad was Arthur Luke who played trombone with the famous British dance band of Henry Hall and later organised the now legendary Sunday morning sessions that took place at the Bluebell in Felling. Plus, her cousin - Billy Luke - with whom I played with at the Lighthouse Club in Whitley Bay - was also a fine jazz pianist.

So, was Lavinia a musician? Answer, no. I put this question to her at what would, sadly, be the last time I saw her. 

She replied: "If my dad had spent the money on tennis lessons that he spent on music lessons I could have been playing at Wimbledon!"

Maybe, maybe not, now we will never know, but, like everyone else who knew Lavinia from the class of '53, she will always occupy the Centre Court of our hearts.

RIP.

Lance