SAX-PLAYING Tom Elder, 94, of Sacriston got in touch following the mention in Memories 299 of the ballroom that used to be in the Three Tuns Hotel, in Durham City.
He remembers seeing Vic Lewis and his orchestra play there in 1949 – well, most of the orchestra.
“There was a great pause in the proceedings as the band was warming up and it soon became obvious that the pianist was being entreated to play, but he wasn’t going to,” says Tom.
“The piano was so badly out of tune that he refused to play. He just sat it out – but as it was a 14-piece orchestra, they filled in him for him.”
Peter Jeffries remembers that the BBC Radio Newcastle presenter Paddy MacDee started out with his mobile disco at the Tuns, and he adds: “I think Tony Blair was a disc jockey at this venue for some time.”
Can that be true?
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