DJ Tom was full on life

If there really is a heaven up there, then Tom Jones - aka “Jonesy”, aka “TJ the DJ” – will already have bummed a lift to the Pearly Gates.

He’ll have been greeted by his mates Gordon Taylor and Freddie Boardley - and the ‘ Three Amigos’ will be enjoying a spiritual reunion.

In Tom’s case – it will be a large spiritual, with fresh orange juice! At Gordon’s funeral, the celebrant said “It’s not how many days you get–it’ s what you did with the days you got ”. And Jonesy did more than most.

DJ, night club owner, band promoter, radio celebrity – Tom Jones was them all . . . and sometimes all on the same night! His love of music matched his love of life. Back in the day, he was bringing Frankie Miller to Ayr and set me up with a phone interview with Frankie.

I cleared a half page in the Post as the call was going to be right on press deadline.

Miller was a little icoherent.’ The only word I understood was the “man” Frankie added to every sentence. After my fifteen minutes were up – all my notebook contained was the word “man” written 26 times!

I don’t know how I filled that half page. But Jonsey and I laughed long and late in Christina’s Bar .

I never saw Tom happier than at the Pavilion – fist pumping behind his “Powerhouse” deck, the house rammed full and Deep Purple’ s“Smoke on the Water” threatening to blow the roof off!

Tom Jones didn’t do anything in half- measures!