Drum Legend Pete Brings Beat Back To Trent College

Published on isbi School News dated Monday 21st of January 2013

British drumming legend, Pete York, brought the beat back to his old school as he jammed with current students at Trent College during the school's 1960s' reunion event on Saturday (6 October).

York, a member of the Spencer Davis Group and Eric Clapton's Powerhouse and who founded the Superdrumming series, was joined by a number of students to perform some of his biggest hits including Keep on Running and I'm A Man in Trent College's newly-refurbished music school.

A member of Trent College's Jazz Club, School Orchestra and Combined Cadet Force Band in his schooldays before finding drumming fame, York attended the reunion event with friend and television producer, Michael Maschke, who is currently making a documentary about the drummer's life to celebrate his 70th birthday this year.

Year 13 guitarist, Kasper Sandstrom, played with York throughout his drumming session while a school band, who call themselves The Irish Chemists, also picked up their instruments during the informal musical session.

The Trent College '60s Reunion was an all-day event welcoming more than 160 former pupils (Old Tridents), spanning four decades, their guests and staff past and present back to Long Eaton.

York said: 'I thoroughly enjoyed myself back at Trent College. It is great as an Old Trident to return to the school nearly 50 years after leaving, meet today's students and hopefully give them some inspiration as to what they can achieve.

'The facilities here are fantastic and the years at Trent College offer a great opportunity to budding musicians. I would welcome the opportunity to return to the school and offer expertise, advice or just enjoy another jamming session!'

The reunion included a Chapel service, with an impromptu Old Tridents (OT) choir and violin recital by current student, Oscar Sinfield, with one OT bringing along the music and words to the 'Trent College School Song', sung by students back in the day! The event concluded with evening supper hosted by Gill Dixon, Head of Trent College.