A JAZZ musician and film extra who has moved from Southend to South Lakeland has been plugging into the area's music scene.

Alan Beecham, 56, from Plantation Avenue in Arnside, moved up from the south of England in March this year so he and his wife could be closer to their sons. Mr Beecham, a professional musician, plays piano and trumpet as well as vocals.

His face may even be familiar to some more observant readers because he has appeared, albeit fleetingly, in host of films and TV programmes.

Mr Beecham's exploits as an extra include appearances as a trumpet-wielding herald for Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare In Love; as a gore-covered cadaver in a horror flick called LD 50 starring Spice Girl Mel B; with Anthony Hopkins in the yet-to-be released Alexander the Great; and Kate Winslet in the Neverland biopic about Peter Pan author, J.M. Barrie.

In spite of having arrived in the area only a few months ago, Mr Beecham is already regularly playing as part of a jazz quartet at Burgundy's Wine Bar in Kendal alongside Ted Richards, Stu Lewthwaite and Mike Bell.

Jazz may be his first love, but he has made it his business to be versatile and has played the ubiquitous gig list of weddings and bah mitzvahs, and has even lead a funeral cortege playing New Orleans jazz trumpet.

Versatility is the key to the business which he approaches as a challenge to entertain, whether at playing at a tea dance, in a restaurant or at a jazz festival.

During the 1960s, Alan played for Southend-based rock band, The Fingers, supporting such greats as The Kinks, Cream, Rod Stewart and Manfred Mann. Nowadays his repertoire has grown to meet the diverse needs of a live entertainer making his living at all kinds of functions and events.

Alan Beecham will next be playing in the quartet at Burgundy Wine Bar in Kendal on Thursday, September 23. He can be contacted on 01524-760051.