played by Tom Jenkins
Tom Jenkins was born at Leeds and migrated with his family when he was three months old to West Ardsley, Yorkshire. As a child, his favourite toy was a toy fiddle, and at the age of nine he used to walk three miles to an adjacent village to have violin lessons. When he was sixteen he got a job in. a cinema at Thirsk ; then he played in various cinemas, and at last joined the Quartet at the Royal Baths, Harrogate. Next he became a member of the Hastings Municipal Orchestra and left it as sub-leader. For nearly two years he was with J. H. Squire's Celeste Octet. He was also principal second violin of the London 'Philharmonic Orchestra. In March, 1938, he was appointed musical director of the Grand Hotel, Eastbourne, in succession to Leslie Jeffries, and won international fame.