REGULARS at Bradford’s Gaumont and Majestic ballrooms in the Swinging Sixties would have been familiar with DJ Dal Stevens, who presided over dances there from 1960-65.

Here’s the latest of Derek’s T&A series looking back on Bradford groups from the era:

* The KDs with Maxine. This publicity photograph was taken on Northcliffe Playing fields in 1963. L-R: Keith Duckworth, lead guitar; Mick Craven on drums; Maxine Lawn, vocals; and Dave Lawson, rhythm guitar.

It was in the early 1960s that this group of lads - and a lass - decided to form a rock ‘n’ roll group and give it a go. None of them had any experience.They must have clicked, however, as through their manager, Maxine’s father George Lawn, they soon had many bookings, at pubs, clubs and dance halls, until mid-1965 when they went their separate ways. Although this foursome did not graduate like other groups, in some small way they were still part of the local rock ‘n’ roll scene.

* The Del- Fis, (1960-63). Pictured L-R:Chris Young, lead guitar; Harry Hunsworth, bass guitar; John Whalley, rhythm guitar and a fresh-faced young lad, drummer Barry Young.

The polished, well groomed Del-Fis were, like many groups of the time, good musicians and very well dressed - a no mean feat when wages in the early 1960s were just a few pounds a week. They played many times at the Craven Heifer on Manchester Road, the Students Club, the Gaumont and Majestic ballrooms. Many social clubs of that time were quite lucrative bookings and the Del-Fis had many followers at Conservative, Liberal and Labour clubs in a radius of 40 miles.

After three years they parted company, but they had made their mark and are still remembered as part of ‘the scene.’

* The Four Aces (only Paul Flintoff on rhythm guitar and Peter Nurse on bass guitar are shown in this photo.The other members were Stan Mawson on lead guitar and Alfred Nurse, manager and drummer). Formed in 1962, what was probably unique about this Bradford group was that a father and son were members. Their manager, Alfred Nurse, was also the drummer in his fifties, and his son Peter was the bass player. Over the next three years the group became very popular, playing at many Yorkshire venues. The repertoire was an assortment of Shadows and Mersey-beat numbers, ballads and a Skiffle spot. However, with family commitments and career moves, the Four Aces bowed out in late 1965.

I met Mr Nurse senior a few times at the Majestic, when the group was playing in 1964-5. He was brilliant drummer and a credit to his generation.

* 4 The Royalists. This 1966 publicity photo was taken at Butlins holiday camp in Filey. L-R are: Vic Storey, drums; Roy Bould, piano; Alan Davies, bass guitar; and Malcolm Murry, vocals. In 1963 this mix match group of local lads formed the The Royalists, and went on to be popular at top venues and Butlins holiday camps for the season, at Minehead, Somerset, Bognor Regis and Filey.

During the winter months they played at many Yorkshire venues and had a good following from their home town, Bradford, especially at the Majestic. In late 1966, although the group was successful, members wanted to do other things, and the Royalists were no more.

* Chris and the Deltics. Pictured in the 1964 line-up are L-R: Roy Atkinson, bass guitar; John Raywood, lead guitar; John White, drums; and Denis (Chris) Raynor, vocals and guitar. They were formed in 1962 as skiffle group Jesse and the James Boys. The name change Deltic was made by their manager, Ron Short, who had worked on the railways where the Deltic was a large diesel locomotive. The change was a good one to rock ‘n’ roll as the group were in the top groups of the area, averaging 10 bookings a month and playing such venues as the Silver Blades ice rink and a monthly contact at the US airbase at Menwith Hill near Otley. However in September 1966 the diesel had run out, and the group was no more. Despite their short time playing, they’re still remembered as a top Bradford group of the 1960s.

* The Dave Lee Sound are pictured in 1962 at the Blue Moon Club in Stanningley, with Mick Craven on drums, bass guitarist Brian Haw and the late Dave Lee (David Harper) on piano, epitomising the style of his hero, Jerry Lee Lewis.

In 1992 Dave starred as Jerry Lee Lewis in the musical Lipstick on Your Collar, before moving to Benidorm. He had a great personality, and on stage he was a hard act to follow. Many people will remember him in the 90s from rock ‘n’ roll evenings at the Pile Bar, and through Bradford rock ‘n’ roll reunions.

* Mick Judge and the Jurymen. With a name apparently from a Wild West film, this group were talented musicians and from 1962-65 were very successful, with a top repertoire of rock ‘n’ roll numbers.With almost a Beatles pose, Mick Judge and his Jurymen hold court. L-R; John Powell, bass guitar; Brendan Wynne, drums; Mick Judge (his real name) vocals and rhythm guitar; and the jewel in the crown, on lead guitar, Alan Holdsworth, who later became a guitar icon in California.