COLE MATHIESON founded the Concorde Club – the South’s premier Jazz and entertainment club – way back in 1957, when even Ronnie Scott had not got round to opening the doors to his famous premises in London.

The club has become a mecca for the world’s top jazz musicians, including giants like Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, Buck Clayton, Bud Freeman, Maynard Ferguson, Sonny Stitt, and leading British players of the calibre of Humphrey Lyttelton, Sir John Dankworth and Cleo Laine, Kenny Baker, Chris Barber, Tubby Hayes, legendary Nat Gonella, plus modern masters such as Alan Barnes, Sammy Rimington, Jamie Cullum, and stunning song birds Clare Teal and Stacey Kent.

Now Cole has been persuaded to tell the full, unexpurgated story of the rise and rise of the Concorde club (well, all the parts fit to print). He is writing the book in harness with experienced author and Concorde member Norman Giller (78 books to date), and between them they have produced a book that is not only informative but also entertaining. It has now gone on sale at The Concorde, and can also be ordered from any Waterstone's branch by giving them the ISBN number 978-0-9543243-2-2. If you go through a bookshop, please be patient because we have only just started the complicated distribution process.

Tim Titheridge, Chairman of the Wessex Cancer Trust, made the following comments on hearing of the book idea:

It is so typical of Cole Mathieson to make a donation to the Wessex Cancer Trust for every book he personally signs.

Cole, I hope you wear yourself out signing your name!!

Over the years you have done so much for charity, not only for Wessex Cancer but numerous other local charities, giving of your time and indeed the Concorde Club so unstintingly, enabling them to help others less fortunate. To have fun and to raise vast sums of money at the same time surely is what helping charity is all about.

It has been a pleasure knowing both you and your son, Jamie, and as Chairman of the Trustees of the Wessex Cancer Trust thank you for what you have done for Charity over the last half century and wish you, and your family, well for the next fifty years.

Tim Titheridge
Chairman Wessex Cancer Trust

Go here to find out how YOU can play a part …

Go here to find out how to order the book.

Go here to read the memories of members

Go here to read about a Journey Back to the Swinging Sixties

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