The Rolling Stones in Shrewsbury? You had to be there

Elizabeth's story is told in a new book tapping into the memories of people who saw the Rolling Stones in concert in the 1960s, charting the journey of Mick Jagger and his band of scruffs from a group playing to meagre audiences in pubs and clubs to global superstars who filled vast stadiums.

Author Richard Houghton, who has compiled over 500 eyewitness accounts, said: "I got the idea for the book last year when I went to see the Rolling Stones perform in Stockholm.

"Mick Jagger was about to turn 71 and it occurred to me that many of the people who saw the Stones when they were starting out would be of a similar vintage.

"Fifty years ago they were teenagers and I thought it would be good to capture those memories of the early Stones shows before they fade."

With the Stones having played in the UK more than 750 times between 1963 and 1966 alone, Richard realises that there are many more voices to be heard.

His book, You Had To Be There! The Rolling Stones Live 1962-69, records two Shropshire performances by the Stones, both at the Granada in Shrewsbury.

Elizabeth Day, nee Morgan, was one of those there to see them at the Granada 50 years ago, on September 29, 1965.

"The bus was organised by the Young Conservatives and as we had to leave Ludlow early some of the young men, who I think were bank clerks, were still in their formal suits and looked overdressed.

"As I had just left college and started work I went along more out of curiosity and as a means of getting to know people than as a fan of the Stones," she recalls in the book.

"The most memorable part of the evening for me was when a girl sitting behind me leaned forward, tapped me on the shoulder, and asked 'why aren't you screaming?'."

A Shropshire Star reviewer was at the concert and reported how girls screamed, shrieked and swooned over "five long-haired men called The Rolling Stones".

Among the numbers that night were their most recent hits "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" and "The Last Time".

Our reviewer noted: "Mike (sic) Jagger, only an occasional word of his singing being heard above the din, pranced about like a puppet, twisting himself around the mike and almost eating the top of it.

"Brian Jones rocked from one foot to the other, Keith Richard jumped all over the place while Charlie Watts sat engrossed in his drums and the pale-faced Bill Wyman remained impassive, hardly moving his feet."

Later he got to interview them in their dressing room between shows, as the 1,500 seats filled up for the second 20-minute stint.

The Stones were relative newcomers who were not even topping the bill in their earlier visit to the Granada, which was on January 22, 1964, and is recalled in the book by Barbara Roberts.

She said: "I went with my husband Keith and two friends. Before the show we went into a pub across the road and one of the groups with them was having a drink there.

"As I walked across the road I found a ticket for the show on the floor. It was a front seat and I handed it in at the box office. As soon as the Stones came on my husband and my friend Bette took hold of my arms – they were afraid I would run to them.

"My husband was having a good laugh when girls were being half carried, half dragged back into the lobby. And when we came out they were still screaming 'Mick! Mick!'

"It was such a wonderful night and I still think about it. I can't believe that I sat there screaming for them, but I did."

The audience that night had real value for money, as also in action at what was billed as a "Group Scene '64" concert were the Ronettes, Marty Wilde, the Swinging Blue Jeans and Dave Berry.

Although the story is not included in the book, one of those getting carried away that night was 15-year-old Paulette Callcott. She and her mates rushed to the stage to get close to her idols – only for Paulette to end up in hospital for a week.

Paulette, who became Mrs Paulette Winter, was to recall: "A few of us went rushing down to the stage just to go and join them, the sort of thing you do when you're daft and only 15.

"It's a silly thing to do I know and, when we got there, I got pushed back by one of the bouncers. I can still see his face now. He was only doing his job.

"I hit my head on a radiator and that was it. I woke up in hospital and I was in there for either six or 10 days – I can't remember which. I was in love with the Rolling Stones at the time and was with my sister Margaret and two friends, Mariane Higgins and Kath Newman.

"We were all from Market Drayton and got there by bus. The concert was packed and I think we were sitting somewhere in the middle.

"We all just screamed and shouted a bit," she continued. "All of us went running down to the stage.

"We never got to them or touched them. I remember being pushed, and that was the last I remember. I think I got trampled on. I had one heck of a telling-off from my dad.

"He was cross for a long time, more with worry. I got a bang on the head and, to be honest, I lost my sight for a couple of days because of the pressure but have been fine ever since."

Paulette recovered from her escapade at the Royal Salop Infirmary.

* You Had To Be There! The Rolling Stones Live 1962-69 is published by Gottahavebooks and costs £24.99 hardback, or £17.49 softback.