WITH reference to John Rusby’s letter (HAS, Dec 29) about Del Shannon being refused entry to a working men’s club by the doorman, I can remember the incident well. I was at New Shildon club waiting to see Mr Shannon perform when my husband came over and said the doorman had asked Mr Shannon if he was a member and when he said no, he wouldn’t let him in.

We thought it was funny at the time because we thought everyone knew Del Shannon.

I’m pleased to say that they eventually allowed him in and he put on a good show.

R Langley, Shildon.

I CANNOT help on the Del Shannon incident, but I do remember in the late Eighties, while waiting early one morning to meet someone at the main reception at Middlesbrough’s council offices, seeing a heavily permatanned middle aged man with a faint Ausssie accent asking the receptionist if the doors to the adjacent Town Hall auditorium could be opened as a roadcrew needed to get some electrical gear in.

The receptionist, professional to her fingertips, said she was sure she could find the key holders, as long as the man could confirm the exact section of the council’s Estate and Engineers Department that he and the roadcrew worked for.

The man, a Mr Frank Ifield, was somewhat bemused by this eminently reasonable request.

David Walsh, Skelton.