The Shaggy Calf Pub 1957 1963

A Memory of Slough.

I have fond memories of getting together with other musicians and practising big band music in the ballroom out the back. There were about 15-20 of us - no particular leader but someone took the arrangements home and bought them back each week. We all chipped in 2/6 each for the room and one new arrangement (to be played the following week). Start time was about 10.00am on a Sunday morning until about 3pm or when we had had enough. Most of us finished up playing for a living. Some, like me ended up in army bands (no thanks to National Service demands) and after. Now and then some of the lads who became famous returned to say hello and joined in a jam session. Thanks to the publican's tolerance and patience we got in a whole lot of grounding in music and a lot of good times.