Youngsters once wanted to become engine drivers or films stars, then they wanted to be pop stars, and now they want to be “influencers” or something on YouTube.
There was a time when it seemed there was a pop group in almost every Shropshire street, and youngsters with stars in their eyes created music on whatever instruments they could lay their hands on.
It was a vibrant pop scene, and a great era for live music in pubs, clubs, and halls. Fun times, but also past times, as although there’s still live music about, things are just not quite the same these days.
Let’s roll back the clock with a photographic encore featuring some of Shropshire’s pop bands from yesteryear. Were you in one of these groups, or do you remember seeing them play? Share your memories in the comments or get in touch here, we’d love to hear from you. Yeah, yeah, yeah!
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5. The Van-Dels smashed it
The 1960s Shropshire beat group The Van-Dels, who were the resident band at Terry Heath's Town House in Wellington. The picture is from around 1964 and a contemporary story said it showed the four lads and 13-year-old schoolgirl Lesley Whitehouse from Rosegrove, Wellington. "The group came fourth in the big beat contest held at Wellington two weeks ago. They still play regularly at the Town House, Wellington, on Saturday nights and Leslie (sic) tells me that she is hoping to record some original tunes in the near future..." Lesley went on to become a professional singer under the name Louisa Jane White. From left: Pat Horton, rhythm guitar, Lesley Whitehouse, in front Bruce Holcroft (drums), Clive Roberts on bass, and lead guitar and singer Les Darrell. | Shropshire Star
6. On the edge of greatness
Before T'Pau came along, Fluff were Shropshire's most successful pop group. They had radio airtime and recorded singles, and appearances on the television shows Opportunity Knocks and Lift Off, but somehow never quite made the big time. Back from left, Mick Skinner, Chris Wallace, Alan Millington, and Dave Archer, with Gerry Ward, front. Chris was from Donnington, David, Gerry and Alan were all from Dawley, and Mick was from Trench. | Shropshire Star archive
7. It's curtains
We had to include this mid-1960s picture of the Bird 'n' B's just so you can enjoy those trousers. On the left is Gerry Ward, whose mum made the trousers out of curtain material bought from Wellington market. The band bought the brightest material they could find. Here they are playing at the Bladen Club, Broseley. From left: Gerry Ward, Mick Skinner, Dawn Cullis, Ray Graham, and Jim Wilkie. | Gerry Ward
8. We've got a van
If a pop group had their own van, they could be forgiven for thinking they were on their way, even if it was uncomfortable and kept breaking down. Here is Dawn again, this time with The Pacifics, a late 1960s pop group from Newport. From left, Keith Wright from Newport, Jim Wilkie of Donnington, Dawn Cullis of Dawley, Mick Lackey of Newport. | Dawn Rice