A war hero whose intricately made matchstick musical instruments first appeared in The Argus in 1936 is the star of a new exhibition – 77 years on.

Sailor Jack Hall, who died in 1993 aged 86, amazed locals between the wars with his delicate but fully functioning musical instruments.

The great grandchildren of those same families are being wowed all over again as the pieces take centre stage at the Omnia Scroll exhibition at Brighton’s Jubilee Library.

Mr Hall began making the instruments while serving on the Eastwick steamer for the Anglo American Oil Company during the thirties.

 He collected matchsticks his fellow seamen discarded on the deck and after a few months had collected thousands.

His son Tony, who lives in Hove, said: “What was incredible was that he had no carpentry skill or knowledge of musical instruments.

“When he was ashore he would visit music shops and make notes or just use his memory.”

Speaking to The Evening Argus Southampton Representative during a stopover in the city in 1936, he said: “I used more than 40,000 matchsticks and four pounds of glue.

“The only backing for the matchsticks is tissue paper and I found it necessary to cover each match with glue separately.”

He told the reporter that his motto was “when you break a match, you break my heart”.

When war was declared Mr Hall was called up to serve on the Atlantic salvage tugs that rescued stricken ships.

Following the end of the war he promptly returned to civilian life and found there was no time to indulge in his hobby.

However, the Brighton born and bred sailor enjoyed a brief period of fame when he entered the Guinness World Records.

Famous musicians even queued up to play the instruments including violinists Yehudi Menuhin and Nigel Kennedy and guitarist Glen Campbell who performed Amazing Grace at the London Palladium.

The instruments will be on display at the Jubilee Library as part of the Omnia Scroll Exhibition until May 30.

The installation includes the works of more than 20 artists from home and abroad.

For more details visit www.omniascroll.com.