ANDREA Foster's most excellent article on the life of musician Freddy Somerville ('Musician travelled the world', Journal, January 26) takes me back to the late 1940s and 1950s when I frequented the North Devon Jazz Club, firstly at the Golden Fleece, Tuly Street and following, at the Wrey Arms, Barnstaple. The top jazz musicians of the day could be seen and heard there, Tubby Hayes, Ian Rendle and Ian Carr were three that I remember.

Excellent jazz can still be heard throughout North Devon. I was treated to a superb performance by the Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra at the Plough Torrington last summer with top artists appearing regularly at the Beaver Inn Appledore.

Added to this, our local Cedars Big Band perform on the third Sunday evening of each month at the Cedars Inn, Bickington, Barnstaple.

The good music carries on!

MIKE CREEK,

Ilfracombe.