Good times in Accrington

Trevis2 · 15-11-2005, 01:27

Remember Edd McGarry and his Band , Sid Ashmead , and Jack Wallace and there Bands i used to go to all the Dances up the Con ,and Bulloughs Club and Sunday night at the Catholick Hall, also Madam Butts, and what we called the little lads pub on Hyndburn rd, ah yes i remember it well
Trevis2

West Ender · 06-04-2006, 23:39

My dad played drums and also sang, through a megaphone, with Sid Ashmead's band between 1926 and 1933. They were called the Ritz Syncopated Orchestra in those days and I have a photo of the band, taken about 1928, all dressed in dinner suits and black ties. There is a violinist (I presume that's Sid), trumpeter, clarinetist/saxophonist, pianist and my dad with his drum-kit and tubular bells.

My parents moved to Derby in 1934 and dad played in a band there. By the time I arrived, 1943 when they had moved back, he had given up his dance-band days but he did have a xylophone for a while when I was very small. I never actually heard him play the drums, to my sorrow (I believe he was very good), but he also played piano - not as well as my highly schooled mum but he was very into "boogey" - and he could never resist having a go on any empty piano he came across.

How long did Sid Ashmead's band last?

Alan Gilmartin · 10-04-2006, 08:54

Went out with a girl who's dad played in Eddy Mcgarry's band, he played the Trumpet, his name was Bob Meredew, they lived on Whalley Rd.

carole.armstrong@tes · 17-02-2008, 15:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by West Ender

My dad played drums and also sang, through a megaphone, with Sid Ashmead's band between 1926 and 1933. They were called the Ritz Syncopated Orchestra in those days and I have a photo of the band, taken about 1928, all dressed in dinner suits and black ties. There is a violinist (I presume that's Sid), trumpeter, clarinetist/saxophonist, pianist and my dad with his drum-kit and tubular bells.

My parents moved to Derby in 1934 and dad played in a band there. By the time I arrived, 1943 when they had moved back, he had given up his dance-band days but he did have a xylophone for a while when I was very small. I never actually heard him play the drums, to my sorrow (I believe he was very good), but he also played piano - not as well as my highly schooled mum but he was very into "boogey" - and he could never resist having a go on any empty piano he came across.

How long did Sid Ashmead's band last?

My dad was a singer wih sids band from 1948 till it finished in 1960, His name isJohn Armstrong....does anyone remember him?????

carole.armstrong@tes · 17-02-2008, 15:29

My dad was the singer with Sid Ashmeads band from 1948 till the band finsihed in 1960. His name is John Armstrong...does anyone remember him??

TubbyLes · 17-02-2008, 19:31

We all seem to have dads who played in local bands including mine Fred Rooks who played double bass,he also played violin in St.Paul's orchestra.He seemed to play freelance or when asked but I know he played with Eddie M'cGarry at the Con.and Syd Ashmead at the Ritz and with the resident band at the Ambulance drill hall on Bull Bridge for old time dancing.There were two other bands he played for and does anyone have any information on them.They were Jonny Hodges and J.A.Sunderland.I have attached photos of these two.

katex · 18-02-2008, 00:59

Aaah bless Les, remember him having to tape his fingers up in Elastoplast so the skin didn't get ripped off when he was plucking the strings ? Loading that bass fiddle on the top of a van was difficult too ... LOL.

Mind you, these days it's all speakers and karaoke units ... yes, 'Those were the days' as per the title. Least they had matching outfits ...

Sorry Carole , can't remember yer Dad, sure I must have seen him though .. been to a few of Sid Ashmead's 'gigs'.