A REGULAR jazz night turned into a bonanza of celebration as music fans marked a number of milestones.

Bolton jazz musician Fred Shawcross, who turns 80 today, celebrated his 56th wedding anniversary with wife Judith on the day of the Jeriatric Jazz get-together.

The event took place on Wednesday, at Dobson and Barlow Social Club, Bradley Fold, with tunes played from the Great American Songbook and six guest singers.

Other upcoming milestones celebrated at the event were trumpet and flugel player Chris Carty’s 80th birthday, Christine Crowther’s 70th birthday, Peggy Holt’s 70th, and Irene Shaw’s, who turned 90 in recent weeks.

Mr Shawcross, drummer with Jeriatric Jazz, said: “It was phenomenal, the place was packed.

“They got up and danced for the last couple of numbers.

“There were some people I had not seen for goodness knows how long.

“It was a very emotional night for me. It was a fab do.”

Guests enjoyed a pasty and peas supper, as well as cakes and chocolates at the joint celebration.

The band, which meets at Dobson and Barlow Social Club every fortnight, launched more than 18 years ago to offer people the chance to listen to and play mainstream jazz. It plays at festivals and clubs across the North West, as well as at a number of private events.