SATELLITES IN ORBIT 1

It was a Sunday evening in late September 1959 in the small market town of Sleaford, Lincolnshire, which was usually very quiet, the only sounds to be heard were those of passing traffic. The Market Place, devoid of any stalls, being Sunday, was the meeting place for the local youth of the town and surrounding villages. It had on one side what was previously a Billiard Hall now converted into a Youth Club with a Cafe, fruit shop and a cake shop beneath it and opposite this was the Parish Church of St. Denys. The evening service has finished but a few of the congregation remained talking outside the church door. Forming the North end of the square was a bank, another small caf'e called "Charlies" and a hairdressers. This particular Sunday evening was to be different and was for almost the next five years or so to transform the lives of a group of local boys.

Suddenly the peace and quiet was shattered by the sound of a noisy motorbike and as it came into view, the black crash helmeted figure crouched over the handlebars was seen to have a guitar slung over his back. As the mororbike slithered to a halt in the Market Place, some youths gathered around to greet its owner with loud cheers, who then dismounted and removed his crash helmet. This now revealed Mac, a 19-year-old budding local musician who had been invalided out of the R.A.F. due to ill health. The group, after a few minutes moved off in the direction of the Youth Club to be met with more youngsters and they eventually disappeared round the corner, up some stairs and into the Youth Club.From outside could be heard the sound of records being played, and more groups of youngsters could be seen on their way to the club. Inside there were about fifty or so youngsters aged between fourteen and twenty, some dancing to records, others watching or drinking in the coffee bar. This was a far cry from the previous use as a Billiard Hall as there was only one table which was in use by some lads playing snooker. Mac met up with some of his pals who were interested in music, some who were or had been involved in "Skiffle" music, playing at the Corn Exchange during the Interval of the Saturday night "hop".

The Billy Cowell Band usually played there and this was made up mostly of cadets from the RAF Cranwell Band, also bands like Alex Welsh, Ted Heath, Joe Loss, Ray Ellington, and Victor Sylvester played there. The only other local form of dance entertainment at this time was by Ron Diggins and his "Diggola" from Boston. During the mid 1940's he set up twin turntables to play records on. This was something new and was quite mobile as it could be transported with a small van. He played records for dancing in most of the local village halls around Boston and Lincoln, being inspired by a group of Land Army girls who wanted some music for a birthday party and he is said to be the first ever Disc Jockey.At the time of writing, sadly Ron recently passed away at the age of 90, so could it be that it was the music that kept him going to such a ripe old age? However, back in the Youth Club this night the records were turned off and soon a spontaneous jam session took place with Mac on his guitar, Andy, a drummer with the St John Ambulance Brigade Band, drumming away on one of the chair seats, and another lad named Frank, a former member of Sleaford Town Brass Band was singing.

 This became exceptionally popular. Dancing to records now took place in youth clubs up and down the country and Sleaford was no exception. Ernie and Mabel Romney were teaching Ballroom Dancing in an upstairs room opposite the Peggy Salter photographic studio in Westgate, Sleaford. Rock and Roll was also taught but when it became popular in Sleaford, ballroom dancing was almost forgotten. Ironically, it is now in fashion again due to programmes such as "Strictly come dancing" on BBC Television. At the time of writing, sadly Ron Diggins passed away at the age of 90, so could it be that it was the music that kept him going to  such a ripe old age? However, back at the Youth Club this night the records were turned off and soon a spontaneous jam session took place, with Mac on his guitar, Andy a drummer with the St John Ambulance Brigade, drumming away on one of the chair seats, and another lad named Frank, a former member of Sleaford Town Brass Band was singing.

As the evening went on, more people came in, and during a break in the music, chat developed about forming a Rock Group to play for Youth Club Dances. By now, two other lads who were learning to play guitar had joined in the discussion; one was Colin, a member of the St John Ambulance Brigade Band, the other was Jimmy from Ruskington who had been practising with Johnny at Jimmys house as they had previously done a gig at Osbournby Village Hall on New years Eve. Johnny had previously played piano for "The Dixielanders Jazz Band" for about a year when Charlie Maples, their pianist, left & formed another band, "The Maple Leaf Four", but he returned to the "Dixielanders" after about a year or so rejoining with Frank Forster(trumpet) Peter Robinson (drums) both of Sleaford & the Whetton brothers, Roy & Eddie of Great Hale on trombone & saxaphone doubled with clarinet.

Johnny who had also played Cornet in Sleaford Town Band was interested in joining them & was invited to try the piano that was facing the wall where the jam session was taking place. Soon it was stripped down of all the bits that were removeable to let the sound out, & Johnny joined on with the others. It was decided that they would meet later in the week for a practice to see how things worked out. By now it was getting quite late & most of the teenagers were leaving the club & going home. Eventually the club leader came over to them. "Haven't you lot got any homes to go to," he said. "We were just discussing starting a rock group to play for club dances," said Mac. We were wondering if it would be alright for us to practice in the club one night a week," said Frank. The leader mused for a moment on the thoughts of the noise that would emanate from three guitars, a set of drums, piano & vocals, complete with amplification & visions of all this blasting him out of his office window.   However, he was eventually talked into allowing one practice a week, providing it did not interfere with the running of all other club activities. With that, the six lads said "Thanks!" & disappeared through the door & out into the night.

The following Wednesday evening, Mac was first to arrive at the club with his guitar & a battered old amplifier, with a tape recorder microphone for the vocalist. When the others arrived, Mac was busy tuning his guitar with the piano. He then proceeded to play odd bits of twelve bar blues, & some rock & roll songs. Colin & Jimmy soon followed suit, & plugged their guitars into the little amplifier. Johnny decided that he had played on better pianos than the one bequeathed to the youth club, but at least most of the notes worked, & it was again stripped of the entire casing. At this, Andy appeared carrying his drum kit. "You're late!" said Mac." I've only just got back from work & come straight here. I haven't had any tea yet," said Andy, more than a bit miffed! "Come on, &  let's get going, we're all ready. We have a few numbers which are fairly easy to start with," said Mac. By now there were quite a few members of the youth club gathered around the piano & the other lads. They all wanted to join in either singin or having a go on a guitar. "I've worked out the chords to Jailhouse Rock", said Mac to Colin, who it was decided should play rythm guitar, & Mac proceeded to show Colin the chords. Jimmy agreed to be the bass player, & he worked out his part at the same time. By now, Andy had set up his drum kit, & was tightening the skin on his snare drum & positioning his cymbals. "I'm ready when you are," he said. The others stopped strumming, & decided how to start the number off. "I'll count to four, & then we start," said Mac, & this was agreed. Before long, the club was filled with the sound of twanging guitars, the thudding of the drums, & tinkling of the piano, soon to be joined with Frank singing into the tape recorder microphone, reading the words from a small scrap of paper. The music was somewhat disjointed at first, but after some stopping & starting, the continuity improved & the teenagers in the club were starting to dance to the music. By the end of the night, three more songs had been worked out, which with a bit more practice would be passable at a dance. The Club Leader had been listening with a keen interest to the lads during the evening, & now came over to have a chat. "We are having a dance to records for club funds in two weeks time, how would you like to have a fifteen minutes spot during the interval, to see how the group goes down" he said. "With a bit more practice, we should be able to manage that," said the lads eagerly, all agreeing that it would be a good start.