A musician who is thought to have brought The Beatles to a Kent seaside town has died aged 92.

Gil Martin was musical director of the Winter Gardens in Margate for 25 years.

In 1963, the legendary four piece played six nights at the venue, and it is said that Gil was the one to sign up the band for the gig before they became world-famous.

He peacefully passed away in his sleep at the age of 92 at QEQM Hospital on May 29.

The talented piano player was born and brought up in Glasgow.

After a brief stint in the National Service, he studied at the Royal Academy of Music where he achieved a music degree which was to set him up for his musical career throughout his life.

His daughter Gill said: “He was a lifelong member and supporter of the Musician's Union and fought to keep music live.

“He married his ex-wife Freda in 1957 and they lived in Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire where he played at a variety of London venues, including The Savoy Hotel.”

They moved to Thanet in 1963 when he got the job at the events space.

He worked with many famous stars of the day such as Bruce Forsyth, Mike Yarwood, Morecombe and Wise, Roy Hudd, Ronnie Corbett, Val Doonican, Lonnie Donegan and Danny La Rue.

The band ‘Gil Martin and his Music’ regularly entertained audiences during the sixties, seventies and eighties at the Queens Hall and the opening number for the popular Club Night performances was an original composition written by Gil himself.

His trio, or sometimes quartet, regularly performed at the national talent contests.

Gil often played the piano at many Thanet hotels as well as venues like the Dreamland Ballroom, Broadstairs Pavilion and those further afield like the Folkestone Leas Cliff Hall and Grove Ferry.

His daughter continued: “He was renowned locally as a very accomplished musician.

“Even in his last days in hospital, Gil was recognised by staff and patients, which greatly amused him and made his family feel proud.

“It was his love for music that helped me and my sister follow that same passion.”

He went on to be secretary of the Westgate and Birchington Rotary Club and was integral in the building and opening of the Westgate Community Centre in 1975.

Always supporting the education system, he was a school governor at St. Crispin’s School in Westgate and even played at the Annual Arts Weeks at Dame Janet Infants in Ramsgate, where Gill worked before retiring 11 years ago.

She added: “Being a true Scotsman, Gil was always available to lead the celebrations for Burns Night Events and Hogmanay.

“Although he officially retired from performing at the age of 65, he continued to play the piano into his 90s for private functions and charity events such as the 60th D-Day Celebrations at the Royal British Legion Maurice House and for family occasions, much to the delight of us.

“He is a legend and will always be fondly remembered as “The Music Man” who played the Grand Piano.

Gil is survived by his wife Yvonne, his ex-wife Freda, aged 96, and leaves behind two daughters, Gillian and Susan, three grandchildren, Emily, Daniel and Robert, and two doting great grandsons, Justin and Joel.

A formal funeral is not being held, as Gil chose to donate his body to Medical Research.

However, the family will be celebrating his life at an Afternoon Tea with piano accompaniment at the Walpole Bay Hotel, Cliftonville as a tribute to a very musical life.

If anyone who knew Gil would like to join, please contact Gillian at gillpalmer13@gmail.com