Bill was Nottingham’s most enthusiastic promoter of jazz. He was the inaugurator, alongside Ken Allsopp, of the Nottingham Jazz Club in 1941 (Britain’s oldest jazz club that still operates). He held jazz and blues sessions at the Test Match, and the Dancing Slipper, West Bridgford and the Gallery club on Carlton road in the fifties and sixties. He was a larger than life character whose nickname was “Foo” Kinnell (you work it out) and he dedicated his life to the promotion of jazz.

This is the only image I have of him. I believe it to be a likeness of him. I know of someone who has a photograph of him but they can’t find it. If anybody has a photo of him please get in touch.

It was from an image I found online (now gone) of Bill Kinnell and James Asman. James Asman was friend and colleague of Bill’s. They used to write in a jazz publication called “Jazz Writings”. I think this is where this image must originate from.

At first I thought the guy with the pipe was Bill Kinnell but I’m not so sure. Here are two photos of James Asman from britishrecordshoparchive.

The more I look the more confused I get.

Much more to come………