Nostalgia: Ask your Gran about these forgotten Torbay bands

The Royals

There was a number of exceptionally good bands and venues in Brixham in the 1960s. The Brixham town hall was one of those places where you could go and watch some of the top bands from the South Devon area. The best time to go and listen to these wonderful bands was before pub kick-out, because after that, the Scala Hall was awash with rockers, fishermen and anyone else who wanted a punch-up.

There were a few notorious guys who would walk up the stairs to the dance hall and maybe get punched down again, but it was a bloody laugh to stand and watch the rucks that were going on. Another great venue was the Parkham Wood Cave Bar, which had a much different atmosphere but was once again an opportunity to see the local bands. One of the best bands to come out of Brixham in the 60s was The Royals.

The Royals consisted of five Brixham boys. Ronald Boswall, the 17-year-old and quietest member, alternated between rhythm and lead guitar and shared vocals. By trade, he was an apprentice engineer. The loudest member of the group, of course, was drummer Phil Cole, a 17-year-old apprentice carpenter. Next up is Alan “Dan” Archer, an apprentice plumber and the band’s bass guitarist. Then there’s Michael Tribble, a 17-year-old apprentice tool maker and the group’s lead guitarist.

Last but by no means least is the youngest member, Stuart Hellier. A 16-year-old, who handled vocals and played harmonica.

The Atlantics

Apart from the Royals and the Blackhawks, the Atlantics were considered the best musicians in Brixham at that time. Their lineup was Barry Dwyer, aged 24, the leader who played rhythm guitar; Howard Jones, 20, lead guitarist; Brian Criddle, aged 24, the drummer and oldest member of the band; and the baby 18-year-old, Roger Stafford, bass guitar.

They were well equipped with over £1000 worth. They rose to great heights playing with Shane Fenton and the Fentons at Sidmouth. In the early days, travelling was rather a problem; oh yes, they had transport – a £10 van with no floor to speak of! Those days were pretty rough-and-tumble.

They formed during the Christmas of 1963, Roger told me. In August 1964, they entered a talent competition in Brixham and won first prize. “From then on, we were living, he said.

They also had residencies in the Tembani Ballroom in Paignton, where they were really popular. Apparently, the story goes that they were auditioning to get the regular spot in Tembani, so they decided to find somewhere to practise, and Brian knew someone in the Ice Factory at that time, and apparently the acoustics deep in the bowls of the factory were really good. It was quite a climb down the dark corridors and the iron steps, but it was well worth it; the sound down there at night was tremendous.

On the night of the audition, they invited the owner of the Tembani to come to the ice factory to listen to their sound, and he was so impressed he gave them a contract there and then. They were now getting more select work and soon after got themselves regular jobs at the Stokely Manor Club at Torcross, playing for the strippers. “Drinks are twice the price there,“ he told me. They certainly were a fantastic group and had a really big following.