Friends have paid tribute to ‘Mr Jazz on a Sunday’ – music promoter Terry Eastwood - who has died at his Milnrow home, aged 75.

Mr Eastwood flew the flag for traditional jazz in Rochdale – and began promoting regular Sunday sessions at venues in the 1980s.

His first concerts in 1984 at Newhey Conservative Club saw such stars as Pat Halcox, Monty Sunshine, Cy Laurie and Beryl Bryden play for admiring audiences.  When the venue closed, Mr Eastwood set up base in the Waggon and Horses in Newhey before settling on Jazz on a Sunday Lunchtime at Milnrow’s Working Men’s Club in 1986.

This featured many memorable sessions including the Dave Donohoe Band with guest Digby Fairweather.

Later venues included Castleton Gabriels Football Club and Castleton Moor Conservative Club.

David Woonton, of Rochdale Music Society said: “Terry became the man you could rely on for a good night out – in those days local bands had pub residencies at the old John Milne, the Eagle on Oldham Road and the Fisherman’s – but none survived like Terry’s Sunday sessions.

“Thanks to his expertise in booking good bands and some star guests he built up a reputation as being a shrewd promoter.

“Castleton Gabriels was the regular venue for a long time, although the life of a jazz promoter never runs smoothly and Terry was often confronted with problems that had to be resolved quickly. Enthusiasm never waned for Terry, with staunch support from his late wife Barbara – and after more than 20 years of running the club he decided to ease off and a new committee was formed to function in the many roles he had served in over the years.

“He continued to attend many sessions and his last visit to the new venue at the Newtown National Club on Nixon Street was on February 16.”

Mr Eastwood, a retired sales representative,  also led New Orleans parade bands and he appeared at many jazz festivals.

He also led his own band, formed especially to play at funerals and even left instructions for his own ‘jazz funeral’ which is to be held at Milnrow Parish Church on Monday March 31.

Tony Sheldon, chairman of Jazz on a Sunday, said: “Terry was always very keen on his jazz and he was a very outgoing, gregarious man with a lot of friends."