by Derek Jeffs (1940s)
Derek Jeffs (1940s), at the School during the war, reminisces in the Oxford Mail about a disastrous night when he took part in a gig with the future comedian Mike Winters:
Mike Winters, whose real name was Mike Weinstein, was one of many evacuees who had come from London to Oxford. He later teamed up with Bernie Winters.
Four boys formed a quartet – Derek was on the double bass, Peter Payne on drums, John Beesley on piano and Mike Weinstein on clarinet.
“We mostly played in private in Peter Payne’s house, but on one occasion we were asked to do a professional gig.
Unfortunately the people who were there wanted to dance, and we didn’t have any dance music. Our music wasn’t what they wanted.”