A friend recently showed me Roy Hudd's article in 'Yours' magazine and it brought so many memories flooding back, especially since I'd just finished re-doing my photos from that time.

I joined the band as Mary Dumain in October 1957 at Blackpool Winter Gardens and stayed until January 1960 when I married and went to live in New York State.

I returned to England in 1964 with my daughter and later went on to re-marry and have three more children.

At this point music had really taken off in the schools and so, despite Ivy's comments about 'marrying and putting one's instruments in the fridge' I returned to teaching and playing again!

I taught clarinet and sax at the Kent Music School until I retired, although I continue to play both instruments in the pit all over Kent for countless musicals. I also play in a concert band in Broadstairs twice a week and clarinet trios and quartets for various events across the county.

On reading your website I was very sad to see that Pat Gentles had passed away earlier this year, she was such fun, but it was lovely to read about Claudia Colmer, Anne Blair, Jean Smith and Hazel Cooper.