My Brighton and Hove | Places | Entertainment | Regent Dance Hall

Contribute

User name: Password:

How to contribute

Regent Dance Hall

Photograph of dancers at the Regent Ballroom

From a private collection

Close-up photograph of the Syd Dean band

From a private collection

Photograph of the Syd Dean band in full swing

From a private collection

Photograph of Syd Dean and band members

From a private collection

The Syd Dean Band: family memories

By Christine Isherwood

My father, Harry Bolton, was a member of the Syd Dean band for 11 years. He joined when he was demobbed from the army after the war in about 1946 or 1947 as 3rd trumpet and the vocalist. He was well loved for his impression of Phil Harris's 'Dark Town Poker Club' and 'That's What I Like About The South'. Jill Day was the resident female vocalist, followed by Vicky Anderson.

When the Regent closed, my dad came to Leeds to join the Johny Woollerston orchestra at the Majestic Ballroom in Leeds, Johnny having also been a member of the Syd Dean band as lead trumpet player. It was in Leeds that my Mum and Dad married and my younger brother and I were born and brought up. My Mum is from Brighton which is where they met.

My mother is still alive and is giving me all this information as I type so you can be sure it is correct.

I see from the responses on the website there has been some confusion over the manager Lionel. I can confirm that Lionel Stewart was the manager of the ballroom until he retired in the mid 50s. He was a Jewish gentleman, kindly and loved by everyone. After Lionel retired, a new manager took over called Ray Taylor.

As far as my Mum know's there is one member of the band still alive called 'Frankie Ireland' who was a saxaphone player. He is now 84 and living in Ireland. Sammy Bryant played drums with the band for a while, his widow lives in Hove and she would love to meet up with anyone who would want to talk about the Regent days.

Other bands used to visit Brighton on a Monday night and played at the Aquarium ballroom. The Regent very rarely had visiting bands. It also happened that on a Monday night, it was old time night at the Regent, therefore Syd Dean's band had the night off, so they all went off to the Aquarium to watch the visiting band. This included people such as Ted Heath, Squadanaires, Eric Galloway, Edmundo Ross and many many more. The biggest attraction was always Ted Heath.

At the time my father was in the band, this was the line up:

Piano - Frank Harlow
Double Bass - Fred Craig
1st Trumpet - Johnny Woollerston
2nd Trumpet - Ronnie Simms
3rd Trumpet/vocalist - Harry Bolton
Drums - Sammy Byant
Saxaphone - Stan Vickers, Les Williams, Johnny Nicholls, and Rufus *
Trombone - Billy Richards, Eric Noble.

* When Rufus sadly died, Frankie Ireland took his place.

I recently found a great website of a guy that collect 78s and is now selling them. He had two 78s of the Syd Dean band with my Dad singing, both solo and with Jill Day. He transferred these onto CD for me, which is fantastic, as I have been able to listen to my Dad with the band for the first time and it brought back some lovely memories for my Mum. I have attached some photos of the band. I will sign off for now, but if anyone wants more info, feel free to get in touch.

Sent to website by e-mail on 02-11-03

This page was added on 22/03/2006.

Comments about this page

I think this page gives a really good insight into the lifestyle of the old dance halls.

By Tina Queenan (26/11/2003)

Very good reading, Christine. It might be useful to know that the last drummer with Syd Dean, a Raye-Du-Val, is still around and lives in Haywards Heath. There is a lot of info about him in the Lewes Archives Dept, if you wished I am sure they will help. Good luck.

By Chris (an old Brighton Rock singer) (15/12/2003)

If any of you stay in touch with Christopher, Syd Dean's son, please give him my regards.

By Jeremy Pender (25/07/2004)

My dad used to go to the Regent ballroom and mentioned Syd Dean's drummer used to play a piece called Skindeep. As my son is a drummer can anyone tell me where i could get hold of a copy. Kind Regards.

By Joe O'Hara (28/07/2004)

I and many of my friends were stationed in the RAF at Truleigh Hill, we practically lived in the Regent. At weekends from March 1955 - Dec 1956. After National Service we still used to drive down from London on a Saturday night. Three of our group married Brighton girls, I'm seeing two of them next week ...we meet up every year. We loved it. Syd Dean was great. I recall he also had a very good trumpeter who left and went back to Manchester.

By Bill Davies (19/10/2004)

I find the stories about this dance hall really fascinating. I was wondering if there were opportunities for these occassions nowadays? Any information would be very apprieciated.

By Henry Chapman (25/10/2004)

Interested in the note from Bill Davies who used to visit The Regent with mates from RAF Truleigh Hill. I was stationed at Truleigh Hill from Sept 56 to Jan 58. I am still in the area and am doing some research on the camp and the radar operation. I would like to hear from Bill Davies. My number is 01273 416920. I too spent many hours in the Regent and got engaged there.

By Roy Taylor (11/11/2004)

I really enjoyed reading about the Syd Dean Band. As a youngster I used to listen to this band on the BBC. It was nice to see the name of singer Jill Day once again. Now a professional musician, my early learning came from listening to British dance bands. As an avid record collector, it would be great to have some recordings of the Syd Dean Band, but i have never been lucky in finding any. I will keep on trying.

By Chris D'Sylver (03/03/2005)

My memory's fading- can anyone tell me Syd Dean's signature tune and put my mind at rest?

By Mike Wernham (29/09/2005)

I used to go to the Monday night old time dances with my mum and aunt at the end of the war. After the war I went every night (except Monday) and Saturday afternoons and evenings and Sunday evenings. We had such a wonderful time and used to stand around the band to listen to Harry Bolton play. I met my husband at the Regent on New Year's Eve 1948 and we still frequented the Dance Hall until we migrated to Australia in 1957. This page has brought back so many memories of such wonderful times. On a visit back to Brighton I was so sad to see that the Regent Dance Hall was no longer in existence and that it was now a Boots Store. What wonderful memories and what a wonderful band. Thank You

By Pam Patchen (nee Smith) (05/03/2006)

I was a member of the Syd Dean Orchestra and you can see me in Image 7 of the Syd Dean Gallery page. I am the trombone player at the far right in the front row. Even in my 70s now I can remember all the members - Fred Craig on bass, Sam Byant on drums, Jack Chivers on piano, trps-Ron Simms, John Wolleston, Harry Bolton, Sax-Harry Strain, John Nichols, Stan Vickers, Frank Ireland, Les Williams, other trombone - Bill Richards. It was 1953 and I was the youngest member at 23 years old. All are now gone to the great beyond except Frank Ireland living in Ireland (86-still plays sax) and myself living in Tenerife. In the photo we had just been kitted out with the new grey band jackets made at Bernard Lupers in Brighton (I think his son Tony is still in Brighton and he took over the tailor's shop). I met my wife - Glen - that year at the ballroom. We have been married now for 49 years. Great days.

By Eric Noble (21/03/2006)

I would love to contact Christine Isherwood if she's willing. I'm interested in Johnny Woollerston of the Syd Dean band and later of his own orchestra.

By Julie Howley (19/05/2006)

Just found this site. Wonderful to see the names of some of the musicians that I had the pleasure of knowing. In particular Frankie Ireland who played with my group 'The Polygon' on many occasions over the 60s 70s & 80s. What a character!

By Dave Cresdee (21/05/2006)

A friend has led me to this site and what a great find. My father Dennis Peters (Pester) was a vocalist with Syd Dean and other bands in the Brighton area throughout the 50s and 60s. I know he was resident at both the Regent and the Aquarium at different periods in the 50s. I know he was the band leader at the Aquarium for a time. He also did a lot of live broadcasts with Syd for the BBC. Unfortunately I have no pictures or recordings of Dad in this period and if any one can help or point me in the right direction I would be very grateful. Dad (Dennis) passed away in 1997 at a very young 65 but used to always tell me stories of his band days. He met my mother (Margaret Rolf) at the Aquarium in 1952. Please help.

By Martin Pester (23/07/2006)

Hey, Joe O'Hara: I am only two and a half years late answering your request about 'Skin Deep'. Hope you are still there! It was a Duke Ellington number featuring the very noisy Louis Bellson on drums. 1952 album 'Ellington Uptown'. Still available from Amazon.

By Tim Sharman (25/01/2007)

I have only just seen the comment from Julie Howley (I haven't looked at this site for a while) Julie is welcome to contact me. christine500@hotmail.co.uk

By Christine Isherwood (26/02/2007)

I was very regular at the Regent in 1949 until 1952, met my wife there in 1950, what happy carefree days. I went dancing every night except Mondays when I went to the Aquarium. Syd Dean's band was as good as any in the UK and the Regent better than any other dance hall that I visited and that includes Hammersmith and Streatham.

By James Harry Allen (11/03/2007)

Am I thinking of the same dancehall by the clocktower?
If so I don't see much talk about the dances on Tuesday and Thursday night.
They used to be great dances. I can remember on Thurs nights it was 2/6p to get in. Strangely enough a lot of mods and rockers used to go in but I never remember any trouble. Many a romance blossomed there and the most used saying used to be. "See you in the Regent on Thursday".

By Terry McCormack (20/05/2007)

Thanks to Christine Isherwood for her kindness in giving me her email address.

By Julie Howley (26/10/2007)

I am trying to trace my Father's family tree. He was a pianist and played in Syd's band at some point. He then went on to form his own band and they also played at the Regent. There is some reference to my Father - Frank Booth- on this site. Does anyone remember him? He married my Mother, Betty, in 1949. They met at the Regent. He was married before (in 1940) and had a son from that marriage that I am trying to trace. Any help would be great: elainef@animalfriends.co.uk

By Elaine Fairfax (29/10/2007)

I would love to get in contact with Joan Bryant, Sammy's widow as I am very interested in Sam/s career as a drummer.

By Shelley Matthews (25/11/2007)

Shelley Matthews' contact email is. s2shelly@hotmail.com

By Shelley Matthews (28/11/2007)

I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Frank Ireland passed away on Sunday 4th May after a short illness. He will be missed by all music lovers. I am sure all the old crowd from the Regent days remember his great rendering of 'Rock around the Clock' and also remember his trademark handlebar moustache. The good old days when we all were young.

By Eric Noble (07/05/2008)

I am trying to verify my mum's involvement with the Syd Dean band. I can recall when I was young, being told that she used to play the accordion with the band during the 1940s - indeed she mentions going to play with them in 1947 in one of her diaries. I have also been told that she played with them by an old friend of hers who I have just spoken to. Mum's name would have been Ivy Wilkes up until 1948 when she became Ivy Groom. Unfortunately, mum died in 2003, so I can't obtain any information from her. So, if anybody out there can tell me anything about her involvement or better still has any photographs or recordings they can point me to, then I would be very pleased to hear from them. My Email address is ukc801988231@btconnect.com or I can be contacted by telephone on 01227 772772. Many thanks.

By Dave Groom (11/05/2008)

Message for Julie Howley. Sorry I haven't been in touch. I will be contacting you shortly.

By Christine Isherwood (28/05/2008)

So sorry to hear of Frank Ireland's death, I was only listening the other day to him playing 'The Man I Love' with my band on an old cassette tape. Wherever he went he took his sax with him and he was always such good fun on the bandstand. I bet he's up there jamming with Gabriel. R.I.P. Frank.

By Dave Cresdee (19/06/2008)

My husband's grandfather took the coats at the Regent and he and his wife did lots of dancing.

By Philippa Lane (25/07/2008)

My mother-in-law and father-in-law have in their possession a top hat and travelling case which they believe belonged to Syd Dean. The top hat was given to my father-in-law by is father who was working in the Regent in the early fifties. On closer inspection of the inside of the top hat it has been sighed by a number of persons under the leather band; any help with who these people are (possible the band) or any information on this top hat or its history please get in contact.

By Ken Lewry (28/07/2009)

We used to go up the Regent Ballroom every Thursday Night for their 'Off-the-Record' show. Yes, it used to cost 2/6d (Half-a-Crown) in old money. I recall that as the Canadian maple sprung dance floor was so highly sprung, records could not be played from the stage at that time, and had to be played from the Control Box/Lighting Room overlooking the dance-floor. One of the first Dee-Jays was a guy called Keith Samuels, who seemed to like spending most of his time in the bar whilst the sound man just played the records. After that, a guy called Barry Kingston was the Dee-Jay there for many years. When he started I recall he was very young, about sixteen I think. He was really good, knew his stuff, and always managed to get the latest sounds to play, and was dedicated to his job. He used to spend hours decorating the stage so I was told, with LP sleeves and boards. There used to be a full life-sized cut-out photograph of him on hardboard in the foyer. He was a smooth talker and very good looking so most of the girls used to say. He would always try to play requests and played a very varied selection of records, including his 'Old Record Parade' and 'Smootch Time Tunes'. I heard tell he used to host record nights at the Orchid Ballroom in Purley on a Monday night, and other Mecca venues in London such as the Lyceum in the Strand, the Locarno at Streatham, and the Empire in Leicester Square. Does anyone know what happened to him? I know he used to also run various record shops in Brighton during his time at the Regent. One was called Ransomes in Bond Street, then afterwards he was at Gibbards in Western Road, a few doors down from Lyon & Hall.

By Dwayne Castle (07/09/2009)

Anyone wanting to chat about Johnny Wollaston, please contact me at michael_wollaston@homail.com

By Michael Wollaston (16/09/2009)

My Father was a bouncer at the ballroom . His name was Paul Thornton. My Mum used to enjoy the band and the dj in the 60s. Good times. Any one with photos please help. xx

By Gina Strowger (22/04/2010)