Status Quo star Jeff Rich yesterday drummed up a storm as he led students in a music workshop at Long Stratton. He decided to leave the legendary rock group after 15 years of touring and recording, to concentrate full time on presenting drumming master classes.

Status Quo star Jeff Rich yesterday drummed up a storm as he led students in a music workshop at Long Stratton.

He decided to leave the legendary rock group after 15 years of touring and recording, to concentrate full time on presenting drumming master classes. And he is spending this week visiting schools in the Norwich area to share his expertise and experience with local youngsters.

“The idea of my master class is to inspire the children to learn an instrument, and if I achieve that then my job is done,” Mr Rich said. “I miss playing with the band but not touring. It didn't do my first marriage any good. I wasn't there and I never saw my kids grow up.”

Now happily remarried, with a 14-week-old baby daughter, his enthusiasm for what has become a full-time career simply shone through.

The youngsters were enthralled as he demonstrated the technological changes that have taken place through the centuries, with animal skins stretched over logs developing into today's modern plastic-skinned drums designed to stay in tune.

And every one of the 150 Long Stratton High School students had a chance to play alongside the top-rated drummer - who formed his own band while a schoolboy - using the wide range of percussion instruments he had brought along.

Mark Hardwick, the school's head of music, said: “I think it's a great opportunity to have a really established and well-known individual who's really keen and enthusiastic to come and work with pupils in the schools.”