Chilwell Rocker

Re the Musters Hotel there seems to be some confusion. Some name the owner as Rex Harvey and some Norman Harvey. Which is correct or are they brothers?

I remember the coffee bars on Burton Street. In my last year at Becket (1958) a few of us would go downstairs (I think at the El Toreador although it could have been the 49) and plugged in the Dansette with a lead to the ceiling light socket. Cheaper than a juke box! Quite daring for Becket boys. When therewas a fuss about Lady Chatterleys Lover a few years later we queued to get a copy and took it to read at the coffee bar. Quite risque in those days.

Re those dance competitions at the Locarno. Do you remember the occasion when you had to jive for 12 hours non stop. That was literally Rock Around The Clock. Can't remember whether you got a prize for completing the 12 hours but can recall it was a bit miffy.

While Saturdays was always the Locarno it was Colemans on Sunday. No alcohol allowed unless you were cute enough to sneak something in. Music was always up to date and record I remember was Joe Brown's Picture of You.

Best days at the Locarno for me were 1959-62 especially the lunch time sessions. To complete a good day you could also nip up to the Central Market where there was a superb second hand record stall. (Forget the chap's name). Many had the middles out and had obviously been used in juke boxes. One of my old mates was Robbie Barnes from Dulverton Vale who also played drums in a band although he admitted he had problems with the complicated drum work in copying Tommy Roe's record Sheila. He is no longer in the UK. After a period in advertising he moved to the Far East where he was very success

I remember going to Rock 'n Roll sessions at the Locarno at lunchtimes around 1960-62. Price of admission I think was 9d with coffee at 6d. Often so wrapped up in music that I was often late back for work in the afternoon. Saturday nights were something else. It was mayhem but great fun. Believe it or not I was refused admission on one occasion for not wearing a tie! The record I always associate with the Locarno was Bobby Vee's Rubber Ball.