TOM Jackson has fond memories of The Falcons Dance Band which beat the best in Britain.

The bass player with the band founded in 1942 from cadets of the 316 squadron of the Air Training Corps in Leigh, he has compiled a brief history of the Falcons which was made up of five saxophones, two trumpets and a three-strong rhythm section.

The band was managed by Squadron Leader Charles Grundy and led by Vince Hayes with Ken Williams as secretary.

Tom recalls: "In the early days we played at Leigh Church Institute, St Joseph's Hall, the Co-op hall and at RAF, USA and Navy camps in the Leigh and Warrington area and also Atherton Drill Hall and Walkden Town Hall.

"The Falcons entered Melody maker and Musical Express Dance Band contests to get known and in 1945 won the northern counties section at Levenshulme Palais."

Alyn Ainsworth took the helm in 1946 and from then the Falcons spread their wings. Regular engagements saw them attract a huge following at northern venues including Altrincham, Warrington, Oldham and Bolton. Alyn added

two more trumpets -- Albert Ramsden on lead and Dennis Martin, also a vocalist.

Tom continued: "Lead alto changed when Maurice Alcock joined the band, Harold Hill came in on piano and Ken Bowers took over on drums. A little later, due to illness and the sudden death of Harold Hill, Frank Gregory came in on piano."

Others who played their part were trumpeter Derek Healey, whose father, Johnny, was band leader at Bolton Palais, Wilf Hardman, Fred Lightbrown, Sam Pollitt and Max Holgate and occasionally trombonist Jimmy Mee and guitarist Jim Speakman.

After that 1945 Northern Counties Championship success the band won the East Lancashire and Manchester championships and in 1947 were big band winners and overall runners-up in the All-British Finals. And in 1949 they became North of England champions.

Incidentally the Falcons' reward for their 1947 success were recording contracts with Regal Zonophone Records in London and a radio broadcast in Manchester.

Leader Ainsworth moved to the Northern Dance Orchestra then formed his own band in London and became a successful conductor and arranger for many London-based orchestras including the Radio Big Band. He died a few years ago.

The Falcons continued without him for a time but in 1952/3 several band members moved on.