At Ronnie Stephenson's funeral service, a moving and loving letter was read from a musical colleague in Germany, Walter Norris, who described him as ''born to play''.

This is a fitting epitaph for a man whose life as a professional musician stretched back almost 50 years.

Encouraged by his father, Ronnie was given a second-hand drum kit when he was 14. By age 15, he was playing with semi-professional bands near his home. These bands had his elder brother, Bob, as pianist . A year later he found a job in Birmingham and soon got fired because he was too jazzy.

His first name gig was with Lita Rosa who had left the Ted Heath Band. Later he served his national service playing in the Royal Signals band where he developed many of his skills as a drummer and percussionist.

Following a spell in Aberdeen, Ronnie moved to London in the mid-sixties and became resident house drummer at Ronnie Scott's Club, accompanying many American greats such as Stan Getz, Ella Fitzgerald, Tubby Hayes, and Wes Montgomery.

In that time he recorded with just about everyone on the music scene: Dusty Springfield, Cilla Black, and Tom Jones to name but a few. Weekdays were spent on countless record and film sessions including You Only Live Twice, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Diamonds Are Forever, and Doctor Strangelove.

Sunday evenings were with Jack Parnell's Orchestra to Sunday Night at the London

Palladium where top of the bill stars included Shirley Bassey, Mel Torme, and Tony Bennett. In addition, he was a member of high-profile bands such as those of John Dankworth and Stan Tracey. In 1966, Ronnie and his predecessor with the Dankworth band, Kenny Clare, made the sensational recording of Drum Spectacular - still revered by the drumming cognoscenti to this day.

Ronnie often recalled the pressures he was under at that time when most nights he could only snatch three hours sleep. Eventually the strain became too much, and in 1969, after three requests, he accepted a three-year contract to play in Germany, a contract that was to last 26 years.

Originally based in Cologne, Ronnie eventually settled in Berlin with his wife, Jean, and family. He was in constant demand with the Radio Free Berlin Big Band, Kurt Edelhagen, Paul Kuhn, and a Berlin band, the Swing Machine, and travelled extensively across Europe whenever a top drummer was demanded. He also found time to hold masterclasses at Berlin University as a percussion tutor.

Eventually, after almost 50 years as an internationally recognised jazz drummer, the pressures again became too great and in 1995, Ronnie retired to Alyth, Perthshire, to be near his daughter, Kim.

While in Germany, Ronnie discovered a new joy in his life when he took up golf. In Perthshire he became an active and enthusiastic member of Strathmore Golf Club. On the golf course, his musical disciplines held him in good stead. Always punctual and a stickler for the rules, only a handful of members knew anything of Ronnie's international reputation. He was unassuming, witty, and good company. Ronnie is survived by his wife Jean, children, Kim and Carl, five grandchildren and a greatgrandchild.

Ronnie Stephenson, drummer; born January 25, 1937, died August 8, 2002.