Top Hat top read

Reading Chris Adam Smith’s feature regarding the Top Hat and other local venues of the 1950s started me off on a trip down Memory Lane.
By The Newsroom
Published 16th May 2014, 12:00 BST
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As I was fortunate enough to play tenor saxophone with Mervyn Millan and The Cardinals, and the Ronnie Smith Band, I got to know Bob Gaitley quite well. He was a very artistic and forward- thinking man, who worked hard to make the Top Hat into a popular dance hall for young people.

It was Bob who encouraged the Ronnie Smith Band to enter national dance band competitions. In 1957, we managed to win the south east region, and went on to compete against 11 other bands in Manchester. We came seventh in the All Britain competition, which was not bad for semi-professional musicians from a small town.

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The planned reunion is a wonderful idea, and I am so disappointed that I will not be able to attend, as I will be in Jersey, playing three concerts, with the Littlehampton Concert Band.

John Haselip

Herne Gardens

Rustington

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