The Lintonaires: Musical Memories from RAF Service

My late father, Charles Cohen, was a musician; a percussionist who played the drums, xylophone, vibraphone and other percussion instruments. When he joined the RAF, he was in various bands. At the time this photo was taken in 1941, he was stationed at Linton-on-Ouse, where with four others, he formed a quintet that went under the name 'The Lintonaires'.

This photo was taken at Rowntree in York where the chocolatier had a hall and where dances were arranged for staff. The Lintonaires performed for Rowntrees several times and they were each presented with this photo which bore at the foot of the original frame the inscription: 'Presented to The Lintonaires Dance Orchestra from Their Friends at Messrs Rowntrees, York, November 1941.

Charles used to tell the story of how he had a date one night that clashed with a gig, (though not necessarily at Rowntree and not necessarily even when he was based at Linton-on-Ouse). He decided to go to the gig to start the dance but he then persuaded the remaining band members to cover for him whilst he snuck out to go on his date! Unfortunately, he was late returning and - he wasn't there for the drumroll that preceded the National Anthem. This left the rest of the band to improvise. Given there is little else that sounds like a drumroll, his absence was easily noticed!

Charles was put on a charge and his punishment was to spend time serving drinks to officers in the officers' mess. As someone who never drank, they could not have put a less qualified person behind the bar