Last Friday (February 8th) saw Nick Mason jamming with budding stars at a disabled children's special school in London, today's Islington Gazette reports.

The wildly enthusiastic crowd were celebrating not only the appearance of Pink Floyd's drummer, but a £20,000 donation from a local law firm, which paid for a drumming teacher and equipment for music rooms at The Bridge School, which caters for youngsters with severe learning difficulties and autism.

Nick was asked to come along by a friend with a child at the school, and talked to the Islington Gazette about the event.

The band (with the addition of Nick) did a rendition of one of their own compositions, Roll It, before 14-year-old star drumming pupil Henoch Lebonza-Makila - who has autism - showed what he can do on the drums.

Nick said: "The jamming session was great fun. It's nice to see very enthusiastic musicians and a very enthusiastic audience. After that, the rest is immaterial.

"It's very similar to the Pink Floyd days actually. You are enjoying playing music and listening to each other.

"Any sort of playing is fun, whether it's Live 8 or playing with a band here. One of the kids asked, 'Are you sweaty', and I said, 'Yeah'. I am a great believer in music being played."

Nick didn't perform any Pink Floyd numbers, saying: "We are very lucky that kids are still interested in our music. But if you are a guest then you must follow their music."

The Islington Tribune added that Henoch, who is autistic, managed to keep hold of his drumsticks, which is more than Nick did, raising a laugh from pupils when one stick slipped out of his fingers onto the school hall floor.

After the performance, he said: "It was incredible, fantastic, great fun. I normally expect to get a little rehearsal time but I was shown straight to the drums this time."

The Islington Gazette's story can be read in full at their website, and more information on the school can be found at www.thebridge.islington.sch.uk.