Rock drummer entertains fans over dinner

DEEP PURPLE drummer Ian Paice met a small group of dedicated fans at a special dinner in Stoke Row.

The 65-year-old, who lives in Shiplake, spent an evening with five drummers at the Crooked Billet.

They had travelled from as far as Norway for the chance to meet the musician, who was also a member of Whitesnake, after buying a special edition drum kit he had designed.

The kits were sold at DrumWright, a drum store in Woodley founded by Chris Wright, who also lives in Shiplake.

Mr Wright said: “Ian is widely recognised as the UK’s finest rock drummer and I can well understand why the evening meant so much to these guys.

“It was a very special evening for everyone. Paul Clerehugh, owner of the Crooked Billet, did us proud and Ian kept everyone entertained with anecdote after anecdote.”

The first person to buy a kit was a member of an Australian Deep Purple tribute band and Mr Wright’s son Ian arranged for him to meet Paice in Sydney.

Ronny Grindstein, who travelled to the dinner from Norway, said: “For me, this is a 35-year dream come true.”

Julian Parkes, from Chester, said he would “cherish the memory forever.”