Drumming 'cures' man's arthritis

Brian Heath gave up playing the drums when he became a pilot during WWII

An 86-year-old man claims to have been cured of his arthritis by taking up the drums after more than 60 years.

Brian Heath of Wimborne, Dorset, used to play professionally in his youth but gave up playing the drums when he became an RAF pilot during WWII.

Feeling depressed after the death of his wife last year, he was persuaded to dig out his drum kit and impressed an audience at an open mic night.

He says there has been little sign of his arthritis since.

There were young spiky-haired kids saying great man, cool, and I really enjoyed it Brian Heath

He said: "I was fascinated by the drummer in my father's band but when he left the area I was brought in to the band. I was 11 years old."

He met his wife while training in the RAF but she died of a long-term illness last year.

Of the open mic night he said: "I came down and got more applause than anyone else. There were young spiky-haired kids saying great man, cool, and I really enjoyed it."

On Saturday he will perform a drumming marathon at St Leonard's Hospital, Ringwood, in aid of Julia's House Children's' Hospice in Dorset.

"I'm going to play for four hours and I'm quite happy with that, I can drum all night," he said.