Chesterfield jazz icon Al Needham dies aged 92

Al, born as Dennis Needham, was resident at the Top Rank Victoria Ballroom on Knifesmithgate for eight years before seven years as resident at Sheffield City Hall Ballroom. He is survived by his wife Joan with the pair celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary last August.

His daughter Janice Ballin said: “He gave music to the people of Chesterfield and thousands danced to his Dance band at the Victoria Ballroom on Knifesmithgate and later listened to his jazz.

“He was given the title Ambassador of music for Chesterfield and a civic reception.

“He had a long life and was still able to do things upto the day before he passed away. Which was how he wanted it . Couldn't ask for more than that. Will miss you Dad. Thanks for the music.”

As a talented youth footballer Al had trials for Nottingham Forest but had to put his dreams on hold for national service with the RAF. Thereafter it was music, and the trumpet particularly, that dominated his life: helped along with the encouragement of his father Alfred - a fellow trumpeter and a member of the Stan Cox Band.

Top Rank, who bought the Victoria complex in 1957, wanted to replace the Stan Cox Band with younger musicians and so Al, then 26, rapidly assembled a 12-piece band, performed several numbers in an audition, and was offered the residency.

Michael Fay, friend and advisor throughout Al’s playing days, told the Derbyshire Times: “Dennis achieved great success throughout his career: it was fully deserved as an outstanding musician and a top trumpeter. He was a genuinely well-liked man whose personal qualities were as impressive as his creative qualities. He was devoted to his family and for him they always came first.”

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Although Top Rank required their resident bands to play new numbers from the charts, Al managed to include some old-school jazz and big band classics.

He encouraged young and inexperienced musicians to sit in with the band and play in front of the public through a scheme with the Musicians’ Union.

And soon Al’s music was known to a wider audience as BBC broadened their local radio offerings. Studio sessions with Radio Derby were received well and played across the country - impressing the BBC bosses enough to arrange for the Al Needham Band to record at their Manchester studio.

From radio soon came television and an invitation from Yorkshire Television to appear on Calendar, the regional magazine, which he did on several occasions. The band also appeared on the Richard Whitely Show, a Sunday afternoon series and was the resident support band to back young musicians in the Young Jazz Player of the Year series.

Civic recognition followed these successes with a memorable reception at the Town Hall uniting many local personalities and musicians from Al Needham bands from down the years. It was a recognition of Al’s role as a distinguished ambassador for Chesterfield.

After the opportunities for big bands faded, Al’s smaller jazz group enjoyed a steady diary of engagement including regular bookings for the Friends of Chatsworth.

Before retiring, he arranged a series of largely nostalgic sessions at the Old House which attracted many musicians who wanted a chance to work with him again.

After that he kept busy writing new arrangements for some of his old numbers, becoming increasingly adept at snooker and continuing to follow the Spireites.

A devoted family man, Al met his wife Joan when they were both 16 years old.

As well as Joan, Al leaves two daughters , six grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.

A funeral will be held on Thursday, August 10 at 11.50am at Chesterfield Crematorium with a celebration of life to follow at the Old House in Newbold.