A TEACHER who as a professional musician rubs shoulders with the rich and famous is passing on the tricks of the trade to his students.

Mick Donnelly is band master at Barnard Castle School, where a 12-piece soul band he helped set up in September went down a storm at the recent Valentine's jazz evening, which raised more than £1,000 for the town's Round Table charities.

Hartlepool born Mr Donnelly left the North-East for London 25 years ago, where he gained a job on the QE2 with the legendary Joe Loss. Gaining a name for himself as a saxophonist in West End theatres, his career took off when he received a telephone call to appear on the cult Eighties' television show The Tube, fronted by Jools Holland and the late Paula Yates.

"I played with Ian Dury and the Music Students - a forerunner to the more famous Blockheads - when their sax player took ill," he said.

Once a member of The Commitments, he has more recently played alongside Britney Spears and Pop Idol winner Will Young.

"The school is very good about it if I get a call," said Mr Donnelly, who has just been to Wembley to play for American soul singer Alexander O'Neill.

But he finds his role as a teacher, which he took on when he settled down to bring up his family, just as rewarding, as it gives him a chance to spot and nurture new talent.

"The soul band had everyone up dancing, and I was really pleased by comments about how mature they sounded performing numbers such as Dock of the Bay," he said.

Since the soul band was formed another six rock bands, each with different members, have blossomed at the school.