He initially learned to play trombone as a teenager before choosing drums on which he made his first professional appearance.
In the 1970s, he worked with Ian Carr's Nucleus, Giles Farnaby's Dream Band, David Becker and Henry Lowther's Quaternity.
He was a popular choice for visiting musicians including Sonny Stitt, Phil Woods and Lee Konitz.
[2][3] Tomkins was the first cousin of Roy Budd[4] (jazz pianist and film composer of Get Carter fame), and Peter C. Budd (jazz guitarist living in Chicago), and was a member of various trios and other line-ups with his cousin Roy.
[citation needed] In 1982 he played on the album Before a Word Is Said with Alan Gowen, Phil Miller and Richard Sinclair.