Hadleigh jazzman Terry Taylor today told how he was longing to meet up with old buddy Ronnie Knight to show him he can still tinkle the ivories.

Ronnie, a once rumoured member of the gangland underworld in London, hired Terry, a former painter and decorator from Hadleigh, to play piano in the 142 club near Charing Cross during the 1960s.

He also lead the resident band at the Artist and Repertoire Club - known as the A and R club - in London's Charing Cross Road in the early 70s.

They formed a friendship and moved around the London social scene mixing with celebrities and notorious characters such as the Kray twins.

Terry, now 72, wants to rekindle those golden memories with a reunion.

He said: "It would be great if we could get back together.

"I know a lot of people would be interested. It would be really nice to play for him again or to get him to come down here."

Terry still plays across south Essex and will perform at the Spread Eagle pub in Rayleigh on August 31.

Published Monday August 19, 2002

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