 He appeared with Vic Ash's sextet in 1958, together with Ian Hamer (trumpet), Johnny Scott (flugelhorn), and Alan Branscombe (piano) and had then joined The Jazz Couriers some weeks before they disbanded.He went on to play briefly with the quartet Tubby Hayes formed immediately afterwards with fellow Couriers Terry Shannon and Phil Seamen.Heatley then joined pianist Eddie Thompson's house trio for the opening year at the original Ronnie Scott's in Gerrard Street, while also playing with John Dankworth.