IT was the Second World War, and while servicemen fought in France, North Africa and the Far East, a big-band leader did his level best to keep up spirits at home in Gwent.

And the setting for many of the dances at which he played was Newbridge's historic Memorial Hall.

So this week former big-band leader Aneurin Thomas, who will celebrate his 99th birthday next month, took a trip down memory lane when he visited the building which once rang to the sound of dance tunes like Little Brown Jug and In The Mood.

"I just wanted to come here for old times' sake. I have very happy memories of this place - I was always made very welcome here," the former teacher from Caerphilly said.

Mr Thomas formed his band, Aneurin Thomas and his Collegians, in Bargoed in 1938.

The band played at dance halls all over the area during the Second World War, and were South Wales champions and all-Wales champions.

The band frequently played for some of the bigger concerts at the Memo. During his visit, Mr Thomas was given a tour of the building and met several people who remembered his dances.

"It has been lovely to come back - it is very nice to revisit it," he said. But Mr Thomas said he was bitterly disappointed that the Memo narrowly lost out on a £3 million prize in the BBC 2 Restoration final - coming a close second to the Saracen's Head and Old Grammar School in Birmingham.

Campaigners have vowed to continue the battle to restore the art deco 'Jewel of the Valleys'.

And Mr Thomas said: "I hope they make a go of restoring this building - I was very disappointed when they didn't win."

During his trip to the Memo, Mr Thomas was enticed to the piano to play a few of the old tunes to the ladies' pensioners club meeting there. They gave him a warm welcome, reminiscing about the days when they danced to his band's music.

Despite problems with his eyesight, Mr Thomas gave a short but moving performance - and laughed as he pronounced the piano "out of tune".