He appeared with Vic Ash's sextet in 1958, together with Ian Hamer (trumpet), Johnny Scott (flugelhorn), and Alan Branscombe (piano)[1] and had then joined The Jazz Couriers some weeks before they disbanded.
[2] He played 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.
Heatley stayed with Dankworth until 1962, then joined the Tony Coe Quintet, and toured with trumpeter Kenny Baker.
[3] Between 1970 and 1974, he was part of the jazz-rock fusion act CCS (Collective Consciousness Society) Band, and played on recording sessions for Rod Stewart.