I was delighted to come across an old Billy Cotton record recently, as it reminded me of a happy evening listening to his band at the Brighton Hippodrome.

Great fun was had during I've Got A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts when Billy and vocalist Alan Breeze threw cotton-wool coconuts into the audience. They were rapidly thrown back and the ensuing "battle of the coconuts" had a full house roaring for more.

It never ceases to amaze me how the 2,000-strong audience emptied the theatre at 8.15pm and another 2,000 were in their seats ready for second house curtain-up at 8.45pm sharp.

Regular as clockwork, six nights a week, it happened with military-like precision.

-Michael Parker, Lewes Road, Brighton