Alan Buckley's drum kits collection goes on display

His obsession began aged eight when his father brought a Leedy drum kit into their home.

Now 72-year-old Alan Buckley is showing off his amazing collection of drums and music memorabilia at a new exhibition.

He has amassed a huge display, including instruments from the 1920s. More than 110 drum kits, 300 snare drums, and music catalogues and books go on show from today at Walsall Museum. It also includes a recreation of Liverpool's famous Cavern Club, where the Beatles performed.

Mr Buckley was raised in Caldmore, Walsall, where he still lives.

He played drums from a very early age but his collection started when he purchased some old kits to dress up a jazz festival at Malvern.

It has grown over the years since then and shows no sign of stopping.

Mr Buckley, who is known as Sir Alan in music circles and travelled the world as a session musician, has also organised a number of events over the years, including the Upton-on-Severn jazz festival.

The father-of-two's collection, known as The Classic Drum Museum, has gone on tour to the NEC in Birmingham, the Amsterdam Drum Show, and also appeared on GMTV.

The exhibition, which will run to March 5, features drum kits typical of those played by acclaimed drummers such as Jock Cummings, Jackie Greenwood, Chick Webb, Max Bacon, Gene Krupa and Tony Kinsey.

Mr Buckley said: "One of the highlights of the exhibition is a recreation of the famous Cavern Club in Liverpool with an early 1960s drum kit of the type played by Ringo Starr.

"I'm looking forward to exhibiting some of my collection in my home town of Walsall and talking about the history of some of the drums which go back to wartime and even further."

It includes a large collection of brightly decorated snare drums and a selection of bass drums beautifully painted with scenes capturing the spirit of the jazz age.

Mr Buckley will be holding a talk at the museum on the history of drums from the 1800s to the 1970s on October 19, at 2pm.

Places are limited. Call the museum on 01922 653116 to book or for more information.